WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT: 


THE  CURSE  OF  COQUETRY 


Dramatic  Romance. 


CORINNE    L'ESTRANGE. 


Puck. — Now  shall  two  at  once  woo  one ; 
That  must  needs  be  sport  alone ; 
For  those  things  do  best  please  me, 
That  befall  preposterously. 

MIDSUMMER  NIGHT'S  DREAM. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

WILLIS  P.  HAZARD,  178  CHESTNUT  STREET. 
1854. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1854,  by 
CORINNE  L'ESTRANGE, 

in  the  Office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States 
in  and  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
T.  K.  AND  P.  G.  COLLINS,  PRINTERS. 


SCENE-THE  PYRENEES,  IN  SPAIN;  TIME,  A,D,  1715, 

DRAMATIS   PERSONS. 

MEN. 

PHILIP  V.— KING  or  SPAIN. 
CALVAR — DUKE  OF  BILBAO. 
DON  ALONZO — A  YOUNG  NOBLEMAN,  TRAVELLING  IN  THE  GUISE 

OF  A  STUDENT. 

ABDALLAH — A  MOORISH  KNIGHT. 
ROMULO — A  CHIEF  OF  BANDITTI. 
GABRIEL— A  YOUNG  PRIEST. 
PIETRO— A  SHEPHERD. 
CARLOS— PAGE  TO  DONNA  VIOLA. 
SILVIO — GATE-KEEPER  TO  THE  CASTLE  OF  ALGOLAR. 

WOMEN. 

DONNA  VIOLA — LADY  OF  THE  CASTLE  OF  ALGOLAR,  NEAR  THE 

PYRENEES. 
OLIVIA — COUSIN  TO  DONNA  VIOLA,   AFTERWARDS    DUCHESS   OF 

BILBAO. 

HELENA— WAITING-MAID  TO  DONNA  VIOLA. 
ISMENA — THE  WHITE  WITCH  OF  THE  PYRENEES. 

CHORUS  OF  EVIL  SPIRITS,  ETC.  ETC. 


NOTE. 

Although  historical  accuracy  is  not  pretended  to  in  this  if  in  any 
similar  composition,  it  may  be  mentioned  that,  according  to  the 
chronicles  of  Spain,  King  Philip  V.  lost  his  queen,  Maria  Louisa, 
by  death,  in  1714;  and  that  he  then  for  a  time  withdrew  from  the 
affairs  of  government,  confiding  them  entirely  to  the  Cardinal  del 
Giudice,  a  Neapolitan.  C.  L. 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 


ACT  I. 

SCENE  I.  A  dar7c  night  on  the  Pyrenees — ISMENA,  the 
Witch  of  the  MountainSj  alone,  with  a  flaming  pine 
branch  in  her  hand. 

Ismena.  Grim  night — and  clouds,  and  storms — I  welcome 

you ! 

Even  as  when — ages  gone — the  soft,  warm  heart 
Of  womanhood  was  mine,  I  welcomed  friends  ! 
Ye,  only,  make  me  half  forget  this  curse 
Of  being,  which  doth  punish  me.     Roll  on, 
Thou  deep  mouthed  thunder — nearer !     Let  me  hathe 
My  soul  amid  thy  terrors,  which  are  joys 
To  this  undying,  yet  death-thirsting  nature  ! 
Now, — to  my  task.     Ye  that  do  love  this  night — 
More  dire  and  terrible  in  your  secret  spells 
Than  forked  lightnings — spirits  that  leap  from  hell 
To  find  a  mocking  heaven  in  human  hearts 
"Which  ye  can  torture — gather  near  me  now ! 
There's  work  for  you. 

1* 


G  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Voices  of  Invisible  Spirits.  Amen  ! 
Rise  we,  to  curse  earth  again ! 

Ismena.  Come,  come,  come  ! 

Voices.  'Tis  well ! 

We  haste  hither  from  our  hell. 
Thou  hast  might  to  bid  us  come, 
Were  a  paradise  our  home. 

Other  Voices.  [Above,  below,  and  around. 

We  come,  we  come ! 
Midnight  yields  her  blackest  pall 
To  engird  us;  and,  with  all 
Damning  powers  of  ill  and  hate, 
That  can  make  earth  desolate, 
Witch,  upon  thy  will  we  wait. 

Ismena.  Hear,  then,  and  aid  ! 

Ye,  who  forget  not,  know  the  unwreaked  curse 
That  waits  on  her  who  lords  it  'mid  these  hills, 
Mistress  of  yonder  castle.     A  deep  curse 
Ye  promised  me. 

Voices  of  Spirits.  We  promised, — and  fulfil. 

Ismena.  The  time  draws  on.     Left  lonely  by  the  death 
Of  father  and  of  mother — in  yon  halls 
And  o'er  these  wide  domains,  she  meets  no  will 
Save  ours,  to  thwart  her.     She  has  longed  for  love; 
Ay,  w^th  free  heart,  hath  sought  it;  it  has  come. 
That  love  must  die.     Over  her  newborn  sleep 
I  breathed  the  words :  "The  heart  her  heart  shall  seek, 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

She  shall  not  find ;  or,  winning,  rue  the  prize. 
One  love  shall  never  fill  Tier  heart ;  insate, 
She  still  shall  win  and  lose;  be  loved,  and  love, 
Yet  find  in  life  no  peace — until  Heaven's  power 
Shall  conquer  ours!" 

First  Voice.  This  do  we  dread  ! 

Second  Voice.  Then,  pile  our  curses  on  her  head ! 

Third  Voice.  What  shall  they  be? 

First  Voice.  No  early  blight — 

But  a  too  dangerous  beauty's  light; 
No  lack  of  power,  no  loss  of  charm — 
But  love,  her  own  and  others'  harm ; 
A  smile,  that  wounds  like  dagger-stroke ; 
Soft  words,  to  rend  the  heart  of  oak ; 
All  that  gives  most  of  joy  in  life, 
To  be  to  her  the  soul  of  strife ; 
All  woman's  wiles,  and  more  than  they, 
To  fix,  to  fasten,  and  betray; 
Be  these  her  bane ;  if  these  shall  fail, 
Our  witchcraft  may  no  more  avail ! 

Chorus  of  Evil  Spirits. 
Aicay,  away!  the  charm  has  spread ; 
Rest  beauty's  curse  upon  her  head! 
Ismena.  'Tis  well !  [Exit. 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 


SCENE  II.  A  room  in  the  Castle  of  Aljolar — DONNA 
VIOLA  seen  reclining  upon  a  couch,  with  HELENA,  her 
maid,  kneeling  ~by  her  to  arrange  her  hair. 

Donna  V.  Methought  the  Duke  should  have  been  here 
ere  now. 

Helena.  Not  yet,  my  lady ;  it  is  barely  noon. 

Donna  V.   Noon,  say'st  thou?     Why,  these  walls  look 

dull  as  night. 

Alas !  mine  eyes  take  shadows  from  my  thoughts ; 
All  things  seem  dark  without,  when  sad  within. 

Helena.  Then  soon,  I  trust,  your  noon  will  shine  again. 

Donna  V.  I  trust,  but  yet  my  heart  aches  with  its  fears. 
Didst  ever  love,  Helena  ? 

Helena.  Yes,  my  lady. 

Donna  V.  Thou  didst !  And  was  thy  gentle  true  to  thee  ? 

Helena.  He  was,  till  death. 

[H.  rises ,  and  goes  to  the  window. 

Donna  V.  Ah  !  then  thou  ne'er  hast  known 

These  horrid  doubts ;  these  fears,  that  shake  the  heart 
Like  earthquakes;  thou  hast  never  known  the  hour 
Creep  slowly  on,  when  he  thou  watchest  for 
Should  come,  and  yet  he  comes  not — never  known 
Those  nights  of  peopled  fantasy, — when  dreams 
Place  him  thou  lovest  in  some  rival's  arms, 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Greeting  thine  ears  with  scorn !     0  men,  vain  men  ! 
Ye  should  be  angels  in  your  kindlier  hours ; 
So,  only,  might  ye  heal  the  wounds  love  makes 
In  woman's  bosom.     Comes  not  Carlos  yet  ? 

Helena.  Not  yet ;  but,  climbing  o'er  yon  farthest  hill, 
Methinks  I  see  his  horse. 

Donna  V.  Is't  not  the  Duke's  ? 

Helena.  No,  madam. 

Donna  V.  Let  me  look ;  it  must  be  he  ! 

[DoNNA  Y.  rises,  and  goes  to  the  window. 
How  slow  he  moves, — as  though  the  steed  were  worn 
With  weary  travel,  or  his  rider's  heart 
Pressed  heavily  with  some  grief.     7Tis  not  the  Duke. 
No  lover  thus  could  to  his  mistress  ride  ! 
Love's  step  hath  wings,  feathered  with  joyous  thoughts; 
'QMs  melancholy  moves  with  leaden  stride. 
Why  lags  the  page  so  long  ?     Doth  he  not  know 
I  bade  him  hasten  with  his  news  ?     By  heaven, 
I'll  find  some  speedier  knave  to  serve  my  errand! 

Helena.  Pardon,  my  lady ;  if  unwished-for  tidings 
Burden  his  mind — 

Donna  V.  O,  tell  me  not  of  that ! 

I  cannot  bear  it !     Thou  dost  not  think  Mm  false  ? 
Say,  canst  thou  think  it  ?     0,  are  the  sweet  hours 
Of  youth  and  love  so  easily  forgot  ? 
Are  all  our  hopes — all  the  fond  vows  we  swore — 


10  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Broken  forever  ?     I'll  not  believe  in  Heaven, 
If  he,  who  seemed  so  true,  now  play  me  false  ! 

[Enter  the  page,  CARLOS.] 

Carlos,  thou  shouldst  have  brought  a  world  of  news,  to  be 
So  long  in  bearing  it.     What  of  the  Duke  ? 

Carlos.  Madam,  Duke  Calvar  comes  not  here  to  day. 

Donna  V.  Sirrah,  thou  liest !  I  wait  him  on  this  hour. 
He  promised  me ! 

Carlos.  They  told  me  of  him,  lady, 

He  had  ridden  to  the  hunt,  with  hawk  and  hound, 
And  yet  alone. 

Donna  V.         Alone,  and  to  the  hunt  ? 
What  riddle  weav'st  thou  ? 

Carlos.  Chasing  a  »ew-found  quarry, 

Just  started  from  a  covert  near  Bilbao. 

Donna  V.  [Stamping  her  foot.']  I  tell  thee,  knave,  speak 

out! 
I'll  bear  no  more  of  this ;  where  went  the  DuJce  ? 

Carlos.  Madam,  he  rode — 

Donna  V.  Well! 

Carlos.  To  your  uncle's  castle. 

Donna  V.  Alone  ? 

Carlos.  Alone,  and  secretly.     But  yet,  I  heard, 

He  would  return  attended.     It  was  said 
By  the  old  porter,  whom  I  roundly  bribed, 
That  all  within  the  castle  was  prepared 
For  feast  and  wassail. 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  11 

Donna  V.  Knowest  for  what  ? 

Carlos.  The  King 

Comes  on  the  morrow  to  grace  the  festival — 

Donna  V.  The  festival ! 

Carlos.  And  seal,  with  royal  will, 

Their  nuptials. 

Donna  V.         Whose? 

Carlos.  The  Duke's. 

Donna  V.  Calvar's? 

Tlie  Duke's!     [She  falls  in  a  swoon,  and  the  scene  closes. 


SCENE  III.  Evening — The  gate  of  the  same  Castle — Enter 
SILVIO,  the  porter,  and  PEDRO,  a  servant. 

Pedro.  Come,  Silvio,  comrade,  a  quarto  for  thy  thoughts. 

Silvio.  Make  it  a  doubloon,  and  I  may  talk  with  thee. 

Pedro.  Tut,  man !  thy  whole  brains,  made  into  barbecue, 
and  served  up  with  tongue,  were  not  worth  the  half  of  that. 
But,  I  would  have  thee  say,  what  dost  thou  think  of  our 
mistress  ? 

Silvio.  Think  of  her?  Why,  simply,  that  she  is  my 
mistress,  and  that  I  am  her  honest  porter,  Silvio. 

Pedro.  Honest,  forsooth  ! 

Silvio.  Ay ;  as  honest  as  thou  art  a  scurvy  knave. 

Pedro.  If  I  do  not  break  thy  skull  for  that  word,  with 
thine  own  keys — 


12  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Silvio.  Hold  !  she  comes. 

Pedro.  The  devil !  I  don't  see  her.     The  gate  is  fast. 

Silvio.  Ay,  but  the  devil  is  loose. 

Pedro.  Ha,  ha !  my  mistress  is  the  devil,  then  !  I  have 
thy  thoughts,  loose-tongue,  without  the  quarto.  Good  !  But, 
dost  thou  really  think — 

Silvio.  Think !  blockhead — have  done  with  thy  thinking, 
and  thy  talking,  too.  Dost  not  know  it  is  the  hour  when 
the  White  Witch  goes  her  rounds  ? 

Pedro.  Ave  Maria  Sanctissima!  Thou  puttest  me  all 
in  a  tremble !  Didst  thou  ever  see  her  ? 

Silvio.  Never  but  once  before  last  night.  Heaven  shield 
me  from  all  that  follows  !  Her  footsteps  among  the  leaves, 
I  have  heard  a-many  a  time. 

Pedro.  And  at  this  hour  ? 

Silvio.  Always  at  this  hour. 

Pedro.  May-be  thou  mayst  disbelieve  me,  but  I  tell  thee 
I  am  bitterly  afeard. 

Silvio.  I  have  no  doubt  of  it.  To  meet  her,  and  cross 
her  path  as  she  walks,  they  say,  is  death. 

Pedro.  Ugh,  ugh,  ugh  !     Sancta  Maria  Ora — 

Silvio.  Get  thee  in,  get  thee  in.  I  shall  be  murdered 
with  rheumatism  in  these  old  bones  if  the  night  air  blows 
on  me.  Get  in.  [Exeunt. 

[  The  Witch}  ISMENA,  passes  over  the  stage  rapidly, 
leading  DONNA  VIOL  A  ly  the  hand — scene  then 
changes. 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  13 


SCENE  IV.  The  Pyrenees  l>y  moonlight — A  fountain  gusli- 
ing  from  a  crevice  among  the  rocks — Enter  ISMENA,  the 
Witchj  and  DONNA  VIOLA. 

Donna  V.  Whither  so  fast  ? 

Ismena.  Now  we  may  rest.     Thy  wish 

Is  granted.     In  this  stream  resides  the  power 
Thy  spirit  craved. 

Donna  V.  Then  let  me  drink  of  it. 

Ismena.  Hast  thou  no  fears  ? 

Donna  V.  Passion  and  fear  are  strangers  ! 

They  are  like  sun  and  night;  when  passion  burns, 
Fear  sinks  at  once  to  the  antipodes. 
0 !  I  could  quaff  fire,  bathe  in  blood,  or  sleep 
On  couch  no  softer  than  these  pointed  rocks — 
So  might  I  win  the  power  to  wreak  my  will 
On  those  I  love,  and  hate  ! 

Ismena.  'Tis  easier  won. 

;Tis  but  to  stoop  and  touch  thy  dainty  lips 
To  this  pure  mountain  crystal,  which  my  spells 
Have  somewhat  wrought  upon,  and  all  is  thine. 

[DONNA  VIOLA  stoops  and  drinks. 
Go — thou  art  now  resistless.     Every  eye 
Thy  glance  shall  meet  will  answer  thine  with  love. 
Mark  well  my  words  :  "TJiy  hand  shall  have  the  power 
2 


14  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

To  draw  e'en  lions  from  their  den ;  and  he 
Whose  lips  meet  thine,  shall  seek  no  other  love!" 
If  what  thou  soughtst  as  blessing,  prove  a  curse, 
Say  not  that  /  have  cursed  thee. 

Donna  V.  I  am  armed ; 

And  be  the  weapon  blessed  or  cursed,  to  me 
It  matters  little.     On  the  race  of  man 
I  crave  revenge ;  most  dearly  upon  him 
Who  hath  so  wronged  me.     Love  shall  yield  me  power 
To  lay  men  at  my  feet,  my  abject  slaves ! 
If  it  recoil  on  me — 

Ismena.  Come,  let  us  hence. 

Donna  V.  To-morrow  will  I  to  Duke  Calvar's  castle ; 
Then,  if  my  spells  prove  powerless  on  him, 
Witch,  thy  foul  treachery  shall  not  fail  reward! 

[Exeunt. 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  15 


ACT  II. 

SCENE  I.  A  festival,  with  masquers,  &c.,  in  the  Castle  of  the 
Duke  of  Bilbao — Enter  DONNA  VIOLA,  masqued,  pur 
sued  ~by  KING  PHILIP. 

King  Philip.  Nay,  then,  sweet  nymph,  be  not  so  fleet  of 

foot! 
I  am  not  wont  to  weary  so  in  chase. 

Donna  V.  Nor  I  to  be  so  worn  with  being  chased. 

King  Philip.  Why,    then,  pray  rest  thee  on  this  arm 

awhile. 

I  am  not  yet  so  old  nor  grim  of  mien, 
In  step  nor  lip  so  palsied  nor  so  cold, 
That  dainty  beauties  need  take  fright  at  me. 

Donna  V.  What  wouldst  thou  ? 

King  Philip.  Dost  thou  know  me  ? 

Donna  V.  Sire,  I  do; 

But  it  were  rank  disloyalty  in  woman 
To  yield  to  majesty,  in  kingly  state, 
More  than  in  maiden  honor  would  be  given 
Unto  his  humblest  vassal. 

King  Philip.  Sayst  thou  so  ? 

"Why,  then,  I'll  be  most  humble,  and  put  up 
A  vassal-like  request. 


1C  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Donna  V.  What  is  it,  sire  ? 

King  Philip.  That  I  might  kiss  your  majesty's  fair  hand. 

Donna  V.  Ay,  and  my  lips  too. 

King  Philip.  Wilt  thou  be  so  free  ? 

Donna  V.  Upon  condition  only. 

King  Philip.  Name  the  price. 

Donna  V.  That,  from  this  moment,  all  my  motions  here 
Shall  be  unfettered  by  your  royal  hand, 
Or  word,  or  look. 

King  Philip.  'Tis  granted.  [Kisses  Tier.']   0,  ye  heavens  ! 
What  magic's  in  those  lips  ?     What  art  of  fire — 
What  necromancy  spelled  them  with  such  sweetness  ? 
Yet,  one  word,  lady — 
One  little  word — when  shall  we  meet  again  ? 

Donna  V.  To-morrow  noon — no,  no;  you  will  forget  me. 

King  Philip.  Not  till  the  moon  remembers  not  to  shine, 
Or  night  to  set ! 

Donna  V.          To-morrow,  then,  a  page 
Will  bring  a  token  from  my  hand.     Farewell ; 
Remember  our  condition.     Heed  you  not 
Whatever  stirs. 

[Enter  DUKE  CALVAR  with  DONNA  OLIVIA,  his  'bride.'] 
Sir  Duke,  a  word  with  you ! 

Dulce  C.  No  words,  fair  masque,  are  sweet  to  bridegroom's 

ears 
That  make  not  music  for  his  mistress,  too. 

Donna  V.  Thine  ears  alone  must  hear  what  I  would  say. 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  17 

Duke  C.  My  ears  arc  deaf  to  all  but  what  she  hears. 
Donna  V.  [  Taking  Mm  by  the  hand."]   You  must,  my  lord, 

come  hence  ! 

Duke  C.  [Going.']  A  most  brave  masque,  ha!  ha! 
Donna  Olivia.  Calvar ! 

Duke  C.  Anon,  my  lady  !  'tis  some  folly; 

I  will  be  with  thee  soon;  sweet,  pardon  me. 

[Exeunt  DONNA  V.  and  DUKE  CALVAR. 


SCENE  II.  A  terrace  or  balcony  belonging  to  the  same  Castle 
— Enter  DUKE  CALVAR  and  DONNA  VIOLA. 

Duke  0.  By  all  the  saints,  and  Mary's  self  to  boot, 
This  is  a  famous  prank  !     There  dwells  more  strength 
In  three  small  fingers  of  that  lily  hand 
Than  in  all  Hercules'  !     Now,  what  art  thou  ? 
Come,  I  must  know.    [Raises  Tier  masque.~\    What,  Viola, 

thou  here! 
Who  bade  thee  to  this  feast  ? 

Donna  V.  My  slighted  love  ! 

Know  thou,  false  Duke,  true  love  is  Argus-eyed, 
And  winged  like  Mercury  !     Embattled  walls, 
Gates,  and  portcullis,  are  but  things  of  sport, 
That  give  its  search  more  zest !     I  would  have  found  thee, 
Though  twice  ten  thousand  men  stood  armed  around, 
And  thou  in  the  centre ;  or,  though  the  hollow  earth 

2* 


18  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Had  bid  thcc  in  her  bosom,  farther  down 
Than  ever  miner  sank  his  fearful  shaft ! 
Thou  hast  been  false  to  me. 

Duke  C.  O,  pardon,  Viola  ! 

Donna  V.  Talk  not  of  pardon  !     Were  thy  home  a  dun 
geon, 

Lonely,  and  cold,  and  damp,  where  one  small  ray 
Of  heaven's  light  smiled  on  thee  through  a  crevice, 
And  one  poor  cup  of  water  every  day, 
And  crust  of  bread,  came  to  thee  by  its  aid, 
O,  tell  me  !  wouldst  thou  pardon  him  whose  hand 
Should  close  that  gap,  that  shone,  like  Heaven's  mercy, 
Between  thee  and  thy  doom,  and  leave  thee  there 
To  die  in  darkness  ?     Yet,  in  woman's  heart 
Are  loneliness  and  darkness  such  as  ne'er 
In  dankest  cavern  gloomed,  when  the  sweet  light 
Of  love,  her  sunshine,  is  shut  out  forever ! 

Duke  C.  Then  I  am  guilty — guilty. 

Donna  V.  Basely  so ; 

But  come,  thou  mayst  in  part  atone. 

Duke  O.  0,  how  ? 

Be  it  by  forfeiture  of  lands,  or  vassals, — 
Or  precious  gems;  or  favor  with  the  king; 
Or  aught  more  dear — 

Donna  V.  What  need  have  I  of  these  ? 

I  ask  a  simple  boon ;  wilt  promise  it? 

Duke  C.  Ay,  on  my  knees. 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  19 

Donna  V.  One  visit  to  my  castle — 

Alone — as  was  your  wont  in  happy  days. 
'  Duke  C.  0  paragon  of  mercy !     If  all  souls 
That  sin,  were  damned  with  such  sweet  punishment, 
High  heaven  were  almost  saintless  ! 

Donna  V.  Well,  my  lord, 

You  marvel  at  my  kindness ;  and,  perchance, 
May  now  repent  already  of  your  grant. 
I  will  not  urge  it. 

Duke  C.  Then  will  I,  by  Heaven ! 

Now  thou  hast  proffered  it — by  all  the  joys 
So  treasured  once — ah  !  villain  memory ! 
That  didst  not  keep  such  record  of  that  bliss, 
As  would  have  blotted  out  all  other  hopes ! 
Why  did  I  lose  thee  ?     0,  fool  that  I  was  ! 
Why  did  I  bury  me  in  another's  arms  ? 

Donna  V.  Not  yet  art  thou  so  buried,  noble  Duke, 
But  that  thy  spirit  may  walk. 

Duke  C.  Hold,  tempter,  hold  ! 

My  plighted  oath ! 

Donna  V.  Was  it  not  sworn  to  me  f 

Once,  did  you  swear  a  thousand  loving  oaths; 
One  for  each  day,  a  new  one  for  each  hour; 
Then,  every  kiss  was  crowned  with  an  oath. 
Then  tell  me  not  of  any  newer  vows : 
False  to  yon  bride,  thou  wert  a  perjurer; 
But,  false  to  me,  a  thousandfold  more  perjur'd ! 


20  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Duke  C.  My  passion  seconds  what  my  reason  scorns. 
Honor  seems  dead ;  all  faith  but  faithless  seems ; 
Now  every  thought  is  swallowed  up  in  one, 
Sweet,  Viola ;  to  have  but  thee  alone  ! 
Thou  art  not  mortal,  but  some  goddess  grown, 
To  lure  me  thus,  like  lion  from  his  lair, 
My  bridal  revelry  still  ringing  loud  ! 
But,  lady,  by  whatever  spell  attained, 
The  palm  is  thine  :  Olivia  is  my  bride, 
My  wife,  my  duchess — but  tliou  art  my  queen  ! 

Donna  V.  Then,  listen  to  my  sovereign  commands. 

Duke  C.  Humbly  I  wait  to  hear  and  to  obey. 

Donna  V.  Mark,  then ;  in  pity  to  yon  new-made  wife, 
I  will  not  ask  what,  once  all  mine,  thou  stolest; 
I  ask  but  that,  one  day  in  every  seven, 
"We  celebrate  the  memory  of  old  loves 
Housed  in  my  castle ;  thus,  in  part,  may  you 
Heal  my  deep  wound  of  many  broken  oaths. 

Duke  C.  Most  generous  queen  !     Thy  subject  shall  obey. 

Donna  V.  Then,  now,  farewell;  back  to  your  blushing 

bride; 

Yet,  in  the  height  and  summit  of  your  bliss, 
So  much  at  least  of  punishment  is  due — 
Remember  Viola. 

Duke  C.  Shall  the  day  be  to-morrow  ? 

Donna  V.  Nay ;  but  the  next. 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  21 

Duke  C.  The  next,  then,  may  it  be. 

But,  goest  not  to  the  feast  again  ? 

J)onna  V.  Not  I ; 

Good-night. 

Duke  C.      Good-night,  my  queen  ! 

Donna  V.  Thou  wilt  remember  ? 

Duke  C.  Ay,  until  doomsday.  [Exit. 

Donna  V.  0,  that  treacherous  word  ! 

How  many  times  that  day  had  come  to  pass, 
Did  breaking  of  men's  vows  compel  it  hither. 
But  yet,  my  charms  work  well :  /  thank  thee,  Witch  ! 

[Exit. 


SCENE  III.  A  woodland  at  sunrise — Enter  DON  ALONZO 
in  the  dress  of  a  student. 

Don  Alonzo.  What  lovely  vision  passed  before  my  sight  ? 
In  many  lands  I  have  travelled,  and  have  seen 
All  bright  ideals  of  immortal  art ; 
And,  in  weird  fancy's  studio,  I  have  found, 
Or  fashioned,  forms  of  still  surpassing  grace ; 
But  ne'er  in  travel,  art,  or  fancy's  forms, 
Have  these  eyes  looked  upon  so  fair  a  thing  ! 
She  sat  upon  her  horse  as  though  the  air 
Were  proud  to  bear  her  up,  nor  needed  else ; 
And  from  her  eye  such  lustre  darted  forth 


22  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

As  might  have  roused  the  lark  before  the  dawn  ! 

O,  I  will  follow  her !  and  if  this  earth 

Do  give  her  habitation,  once  again 

Mine  eyes  may  feast  upon  such  wondrous  charms ! 

[Exit. 

Enter  PIETRO,  a  shepherd. 

Pietro.  What  do  these  gentlefolks  abroad  so  early  ?  Why, 
here  have  I  just  rubbed  my  sleepy  eyes,  and  come  to  run  a 
race  with  the  skylark,  when  this  madcap  of  a  lady  comes 
galloping  across  the  fields,  with  a  poor  devil  of  a  page  try 
ing  the  mettle  of  his  steed  and  his  spurs  to  keep  pace  with 
her.  But,  by  the  keys  of  the  Church,  that  fine  lass  has  a 
wondrous  pair  of  eyes  !  What  a  lovely  milkmaid  she  would 
make  !  What  a  sight,  when  all  the  lads  and  lasses  were  at 
the  vintage,  to  see  her  among  them  all,  with  such  a  smile 
on  her  lips,  and  such  a  song  in  her  mouth,  as  would  turn 
all  our  merry  fellows  mad !  Pietro,  my  boy,  an  thou  ever 
seest  her  again — La,  la  !  what  a  pair  of  eyes !  Eyes,  eyes  ! 
why,  they  would  make  it  day  at  the  frozen  pole  of  the  earth, 
where  they  say  the  sun  is  out  of  sight  for  six  months  ! 

\_Exitj  singing. 

SCENE  IV.    A  room  in  Algolar   Castle — Enter   DONNA 
VIOLA  (in  riding  habit)  and  HELENA. 

Donna  V.  O,  'twas  a  fright,  Helena  ! 

Helena.  Plow,  dear  lady  ? 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  23 

Donna  V.  I  tremble  yet — I  who  have  dared  so  much  ! 
Hold  me — I  faint !     Such,  such  we  women  are  ! 
Thus,  in  the  fire  and  tempest  of  our  passion, 
We  can  meet  fiends ;  but,  when  our  rage  is  cooled, 
A  mouse  may  fright  us  ! 

Helena.  What  hath  happened  you  ? 

Donna  V.  A  dozen  robbers,  scarce  a  mile  from  hence, 
Set  on  us  suddenly  from  out  a  wood. 
They  bound  yon  trusty  page,  who  fought,  forsooth, 
As  though  ten  years  of  war  had  schooled  his  arms ; 
And  then  to  me  their  bearded  chieftain  came, 
In  act  to  draw  me  from  my  saddle  down. 

Helena.  0,  terrors! 

Donna  V.  Then,  I  thought  me  of  a  spell 

Learned  from  Ismena,  the  old  mountain  hag. 
I  placed  my  hand  upon  his  ruffian  grasp, 
And  cried,  "a  word,  bold  sir!"     "No  words,"  he  said; 
"  Kisses  would  more  become  those  pretty  lips  !" 
"  Yet,  words  first,  kisses  after,"  I  replied ; 
Mastering  the  fears  that  choked  me.     He  stood  back, 
And,  wondering,  gazed  on  me  as  might  a  wolf 
To  hear  a  lamb  cry  "truce"  to  his  bloody  jaws. 
Thus,  woman's  gentleness  is  oft  more  strong 
Than  valor,  trebly  armed.     His  dark  brow  smoothed, 
Lip  softened,  and  his  eye  grew  mild  with  love; 
Anon,  he  sank  upon  his  very  knees ; 
Begged  and  entreated  me  to  smile  on  him ; 


24  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Asked  pardon  for  the  rudeness  of  his  seizure ; 

Bid  Carlos  be  unbound ;  in  short,  did  all 

To  show  himself  the  conquered,  though  my  victor. 

Helena.  And  did  he  leave  you  so  ? 

Donna  V.  He  did,  Helena; 
Only  he  bade  me  (which  his  noble  front, 
Most  knightly  bearing,  and  frank  courtesy 
Made  easy  ransom)  promise  in  return, 
I  would  forget  his  ruffian-like  pursuit ; 
And,  as  he  swore  he  was  of  gentlest  blood, 
Guest  him  within  my  castle. 

Helena.  Passing  strange ! 

Donna  V.  O,  Helena — things  stranger  yet  may  be  ! 
There  is  a  restless  fever  in  my  thoughts, 
That  calls  for  more — and  will  not  be  appeased, 
Though  all  the  noblest  of  this  goodly  land 
Fall,  as  love's  vassals,  at  my  throned  feet! 
Go,  deck  my  room  of  state :  this  afternoon 
Perchance  his  majesty  may  happen  here. 

Helena.  The  King? 

Donna  V.  The  King  !  why  not  ? — Go,  child,  prepare. 

[Exit  HELENA. 

>Tis  said,  the  lion  that  hath  tasted  blood, 
Slumbrous  and  tame  before,  grows  hot  with  rage — 
Thirsting  for  prey ;  even  so,  methinks,  am  I, 
Now  this  new  lust  of  power  hath  so  been  fed. 
Woman's  first  passion  ever  must  be  love; 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  25 

But,  be  this  thwarted — jealousy,  or  revenge, 

Or  love  of  power,  each  may  hold  its  rule, — 

Or  all  at  once ; — mine,  mine  is  love  of  conquest ! 

But,  for  this  paltry  Duke — 

He  is  not  true;  what  care  I  for  Jiis  love? 

I  shall  not  worship  changelings.     The  true  heart, 

Where  Love  sits  once  enthroned,  no  charms  divine, 

Not  Cleopatra — Circe's  wand — nor  Siren — 

Not  all  the  bright  perfections  of  an  angel — 

Can  bend  to  swerve  from  its  allegiance ! 

O,  thus  would  I  have  loved,  had  he  been  true ! 

For  I  did  doat  on  him  till  love  in  me 

Became  idolatry.     Then,  all  things  changed ; 

The  very  air  and  sunshine  glowed  like  heaven  j 

And  he,  who,  erst  had  been  a  plain  blunt  man, 

Became  Hyperion  to  my  love-lit  eyes. 

So  wondrous  is  the  alchemy  of  love ! 

But  now — all's  gone.     He  is  my  prey.     Come,  power ! 

I  have  exchanged  my  nature  with  the  tigress ; 

And,  through  the  tangled  jungle  of  men's  hearts 

I  move,  with  stealthy  tread,  yet  sure  of  spring, 

And  strong  to  wound— e'en  to  the  bloody  death ! 

[Exit. 


26  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 


ACT    III. 

SCENE  I.  A  room  of  state  in  the  Castle  of  Algolar— 
Enter,  on  one  side,  KING  PHILIP;  on  the  other,  DONNA 
VIOLA. 

King  Philip.  Thou  fair  enchantress,  who  hast  won  me  so 
To  doff  my  royalty,  as  one  of  old 
More  mighty  did  his  strength,  behold  me  here, — 
All  unattended,  as  thou  bad'st  me  come ; 
Content,  thus  at  thy  feet,  thy  royal  slave ! 

[Kneels  to  her. 
Donna  V.  Rise,  sire ;  such  homage  should  be  yours  from 

me. 

King  Philip.  No;  in  love's  kingdom,  all  high  rule  re 
versed, 

One  only  sceptre  sways  the  universe — 
'Tis  woman's  beauty,  and  that  nameless  charm 
Which  thou,  fair  queen  of  hearts,  so  queenly  wear'st ! 
Donna  V.  I  do  beseech  your  majesty  to  rise. 
King  Philip.  Command  me,  and  I  must  obey  perforce. 
Donna  V.  Your  humblest  servant  doth  command  you, 

then. —  [The  KING  rises. 

Will  you  be  seated?     Or,  I  well  remember, 
Your  highness  hath  a  more  Arcadian  fancy — 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  27 

I  have  a  pleasant  garden  near  the  castle, 
vShaded,  j?ct  sweet  with  wafted  breath  of  flowers; 
And  cool  withal,  where  waters  fall  and  flow ; 
Wilt  walk  with  me  ? 

King  Philip.  Sweet,  there  or  anywhere. 

I  am  bound  up  in  love;  thy  Orphean  voice 
Would  tame  me,  were  I  wilder  than  the  leopard. 
Spain  !  thou  shalt  be  forgot ;  my  peace,  my  war, 
Viola,  this  bright  day,  shall  make  or  mar. 

Donna   V.    Bring   music,   Carlos !   sweet,   soul-trancing 
music ; 

[CARLOS  enters.'} 

Let  the  strain  fall  as  soft  as  dew  on  flowers, 
And  sweeter  than  the  perfumed  cups  it  fills ! 

[Exeunt. 

SCENE  II.  The  gateway  of  the  same  Castle — Enter  HELENA, 
in  Spanish  out-door  costume,  knocking — SILVIO  opens.the 
gate. 

Silvio.  So,  Helena! 

Helena.  Well,  master  Silvio,  is  thy  solemn  mouth  open 
to-day,  as  well  as  thy  ponderous  gate?  In  faith,  I  know  not 
which  goes  the  rustier. 

Silvio.  Peace!  Thy  mistress  hath  had  brave  company 
to-day. 

Helena.  A  gentleman  only — true,  a  right  fair  gentleman 
he  seemed. 


28  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Silvio.  Ha,  girl!  dost  think  I  could  serve  ten  years  in 
his  royal  father's  guard,  and  not  know  that  face?  There's 
much  good,  or  more  ill,  brewing  in  a  house  when  our  Sire 
Philip  enters  it  for  a  lady's  smiles. 

Helena.  For  shame  on  thee,  for  an  old  scandal-monger ! 
The  queen's  crown  has  sat  on  less  fair  heads  than  our  Lady 
Viola's ;  and,  maybe,  less  noble,  too. 

Silvio.  Didst  thou  speak  of  wisdom  and  craft,  I  would 
be  with  thee ;  for  I  believe  the  devil  helps  her  on  occasion. 

Helena.  Not  without  her  helping  him  in  return,  on  occa 
sion,  thou  wouldst  say ;  but,  I  tell  thee,  thy  wise  head  there 
is  all  wrong.  Our  mistress  would  neither  wed  King  Philip 
for  his  throne,  nor  be  his,  for  the  crown  jewels,  without  the 
throne. 

Silvio.  Well,  well,  berries  will  be  red  when  they  ripen ; 
and  so  will  be  lips  and  cheeks  when  the  young  blood  is  in 
them.  Let  go ;  I  shall  not  meddle  with  kings,  nor  donnas 
neither,  so  long  as  there's  beef  in  the  pot,  and  my  gate  needs 
no  mending.  Let  go !  [Exeunt. 

SCENE  III.  A  chamber— Enter  DONNA  VIOLA  and  HE 
LENA  in  night  dress — Song,  with  the  guitar  heard  with 
out. 

Song. 

Sleepest,  or  wakest,  lady  fair  ? 
Now,  in  his  lair, 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  29 

Each  wild  thing  slumbers. 
Of  all  earth's  numbers, 
Save  love  and  I, 
There  wakes  no  eye ; 
Sleepest,  or  wakest,  lady? 

If  thou  art  dreaming, 

Through  closed  lids  beaming, 

Be  sights  more  fair  than  Jacob's  angels  given ; 

But,  if  thou  wake, 

Sweet  mercy  take 

On  love  that  finds  those  starry  eyes  its  heaven ! 

Sleepest,  or  wakest,  lady  ? 

Donna  V.  What  voice  doth  flatter  us  with  such  sweet 

address  ? 

Such  music  is  more  welcome,  far,  than  sleep ! 
O,  it  is  bliss,  at  midnight,  when  the  moon, 
Soft  peeping  through  the  lattice,  gilds  our  dreams, 
To  have  them  melted  into  wake  fulness — 
As  much  more  sweet  than  day's  as  heaven  than  earth — 
By  the  soft  touch  of  song  !     It  is  not  waking ; 
But  seems  like  dying  into  some  other  world, 
All  made  of  happiest  dreams.     Why  doth  he  cease? 
Go,  Helena,  wake  Silvio;  command 
This  gentle  warbler  be  enforced  in. 
Bid  him  be  entertained.     Say  that,  to-mqrrow, 
Some  strict  affairs  must  urge  me  to  be  private ; 

3* 


30  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

But  that  another  day  shall  not  pass  noon 
Without  our  conference.     Go,  haste,  Helena. 

[Exeunt. 

SCENE  IV.  A  field  or  woodland— Enter  CARLOS. 

Carlos.  Now,  if  this  be  not  the  wildest  chase  after  a 
tame  goose  that  ever  Christian  man  was  sent  upon !  To 
find  a  scurvy  lout  of  a  peasant  boy,  that  knows  no  more 
how  to  speak  to  a  fine  lady  than  I  would  know  how  to  shear 
ewes  !  Methinks,  if  my  mistress  be  ever  so  fond  of  mutton, 
she  might  eat  it  without  acquaintance  with  all  the  grass  it 
was  pastured  on.  But,  mayhap,  she  hath  an  ambition  to 
be  like  the  famous  monarch  of  old  time — and  eat  grass  her 
self;  in  that  case,  I  don't  wish  to  have  the  watching  of  her. 
One  would  have  to  look  well  to  the  fences !  Here  he  comes, 
as  I  guess.  Now  we  will  have  our  errand  done,  at  last. 
[Enter  PJETRO,  with  a  shepherd's  crook.~\ 

Say,  my  friend,  is  not  thy  name  Pietro  ? 

Pietro.  True,  I  be  one  of  that  name ;  but  there  be  more 
about. 

Carlos.  Well,  I  reckon  thou  wilt  do  as  well  as  another  for 
me,  so  that  thou  keep  sheep. 

Pietro.  Nay,  but  1  don't  do  that;  sheep  keep  me. 

Carlos.  How  wilt  thou  prove  that? 

Pietro.  Isn't  a  one  kept  by  what  he  eats  and  wears'/ 
And  don't  I  shear  the  sheep,  and  sell  them ;  and  kill  them, 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  31 

and  eat  them;  and  wear  their  wool,  too?     I  would  like  to 
see  the  sheep  that  would  eat  me,  and  wear  my  wool. 

Carlos.  0,  thou  art  a  very  keen  shepherd  !  Now,  I  guess 
that,  out  of  thy  plentiful  wit,  thou  canst  answer  me  one 
question. 

Pietro.  If  I  don't,  hold  me  as  dull  as  that  dainty  sword 
there  of  thine,  that  never  was  meant  to  cut. 

Carlos.  Thou  liest,  clodhopper  !  Misshapen  lump,  thou — 
mutton-mouth,  thou — 

Pietro.  Wilt  call  me  a  mutton-mouth  ? 

[Flourishing  his  sticJc. 

Carlos.  Hold,  good  shepherd !  brave,  magnanimous  shep 
herd,  hold !  Put  up  that  weapon,  I  pray  ! 

Pietro.  Art  thou  not  afraid  of  me  ? 

Carlos.  For  the  sake  of  argument,  we  will  say,  I  am. 
Only  grant  me  that  my  sword  hath  a  right  good  edge. 

Pietro.  Granted,  for  the  sake  of  argument.  Then,  what 
dost  thou  want  with  me  ? 

Carlos.  Civilly,  to  know  whereabouts  those  sheep  do  keep 
you,  and  feed  you,  and  lead  you  to  water,  and  pasture  you. 

Pietro.  0,  now  thou  art  speaking  reason  again.  Come 
along,  and  I'll  show  thee  where  we  graze.  This  way;  come 
along.  [Exeunt. 


32  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 


SCENE  V.      A  garden — Enter  DONNA  VIOLA  and  DUKE 
CALVAR. 

Donna  V.  Duke,  I  have  said;  no  more !  Calvar,  no  more ! 

Duke  0.  Sweet,  be  it  Calvar  still ;  call  me  not  Duke. 

Donna  V.  That  shall  be  as  your  merit  stands  with  me. 

Duke  C.  Dost  thou  not  love  me  ? 

Donna  V.  Else,  why  call  thee  hither? 

Duke  C.  Then,  why  so  foreign  to  love's  tender  guise  ? 
The  passion  which,  in  its  first  purple  dawn, 
Feeds  on  soft  looks — is  feasted  with  a  kiss — 
Grows  wild  with  ardor  in  its  height  of  noon ; 
Thus  mine —  [Approaches  her. 

Donna  V.  Away !  Duke,  I  command  thee ;  cease ! 

Duke  C.  Must  I  obey  ? 

Donna  V.  Thoushalt! 

Duke  C.  [Turning  slowly  away.~\     Most  cruel  tyrant! 

Donna  V.  Hold,  Calvar!     For  this  due  obedience, 
I  will  forgive  thy  froward  tongue.     Remember, 
(Thou  canst  not  doubt  my  love),  when  rolls  a  week, 
The  self  same  day  makes  thee  again  my  guest. 

Dulce  0.  Unwillingly  I  leave — but  am  most  glad 
To  salve  my  penance  with  that  better  hope. 
For  this  time  vanquished;  0,  thou  bitter-sweet, 
That  mak'st  and  marr'st  my  passion  in  a  breath ! 
I'll  rule  thee  yet!  [Aside. 

[Exeunt j  on  opposite  sides.] 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  33 


SCENE  VI.     A  room  in  Alyolar  Castle— Enter  DONNA 
VIOLA,  and  DON  ALONZO  in  student's  dress. 

Donna  V.  Sir  Student,  I  most  humbly  crave  your  pardon, 
For  giving  you  so  slow  and  dull  a  welcome. 
Your  moonlit  strain,  which  sweetly  broke  our  sleep, 
Might  have  flung  wide  the  gates  of  palaces ! 

Don  Alonzo.  Ah,  lady !  pardon  my  presumptuous  song  ! 
The  tongue  bears  not  the  guilt,  which  from  the  heart 
Gushed  madly ;  such  sweet  madness  you  inspire  ! 

Donna  V.  Art  thou  not  strange  to  me  ? 

Don  Alonzo.  These  eyes  but  once 

Opened  upon  thy  beauty;  yet  such  space 
That  picture  holds  in  my  mind's  gallery, 
And  I  so  oft  have  conned  it,  that,  'twould  seem 
I  must  have  seen  thee  many  million  times ! 

Donna  V.  To  flatter,  is  the  poet's  privilege. 

Don  Alonzo.  No,  lady ;  he,  whose  soul  is  Nature's  child, 
Nurtured  by  her  alone,  as  those  of  old 
By  manna  from  God's  hand — most  worships  truth  ! 
O,  call  not  poets  false,  in  heart  or  song; 
Where  falsehood  dwells,  there  beauty  dies  away; 
Sweet  tune  from  broken  harp  might  come,  as  well 
As  poesy — from  a  heart  that  is  not  true! 

Donna  V.  I  wronged  thy  calling  then ;  wilt  thou  forgive  ? 

Don  Alonzo.  Yes,  lady.     I  have  heard,  in  other  lands, 
Strange  tales  of  faery-work  and  witchery; 


34  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Of  mighty  wands,  and  mystic  muttered  spoils," 
Doubtful  I  heard  them ;  but  I  doubt  no  more, 
That  unseen  spirits  hover  o'er  our  world — 
Through  its  dark  caverns  climbing  from  their  depths, 
Or  winging  downward  thro'  the  air :  the  power 
Thy  beauty  wields,  hath  something  of  their  nature. 
Else,  a  lone  student,  thoughtful,  shy,  and  timid, 
Had  not  thus  dared  to  scale  thy  lofty  state — 
As  though  a  dove  should  mount  to  an  eagle's  nest ! 
Magic  or  madness  wrought  it,  noble  lady. 

Donna  V.  Then  call  it  madness ;  for  I  love  so  well 
To  hear  thee  rave,  'twere  bliss  to  be  thy  keeper; 
So  wander  ever,  gentle  lunatic  ! 
And,  if  aught  else  of  vagary  be  thine — 
Pray  tell  me;  so,  perchance,  may  come  thy  cure. 

Don  Alonzo.  These  soft  words,  lady,  but  increase  my  ill. 
0  !  could  I  dare  to  take  you  at  your  word, 
And  tell  you,  that  my  madness  grows  so  bold, 
It  leaps,  in  wishes,  even  to  those  lips  ! 
What  punishment  do  such  rash  thoughts  deserve  ? 

Donna  V.  Naught,  but  free  pardon,  if  I  be  the  judge. 
Dost  think,  the  church  would  frown  on  gentlest  love, 
Given  as  medicine  for  lunacy  f 

Don  Alonzo.  No,  lady ;  'twere  a  blameless  charity. 

Donna  V.  I  would  'twere  thine. 

Don  Alonzo.  0,  rare  munificence  ! 

Now,  am  I  tenfold  madder  than  before. 
Methinks  I  am  another  man  than  T ; 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  35 

A  knight's  full  armor  weighs  upon  my  limbs ; 

Give  me  my  sword  and  helm  !     Bring  forth  my  horse  ! 

On — for  my  lady  ! — No,  no — pardon  me. 

I  did  forget  myself.     Sometimes  'tis  so. 

Most  noble  lady,  I  am  strange  in  speech ; 

But,  trust  me,  were  I  in  more  courtly  guise, 

(Such  virtue  travel  worketh  in  the  rude) — 

I  might  Hot  lack  the  mien  of  chivalry. 

Something  I've  seen  of  war — a  looker  on ; 

And  sometimes — when  the  soul  is  wrought  upon, 

Things  past  come  thus  between  us  and  our  sight. 

Forgive  me ; — but,  those  eyes,  those  lips,  O  Heaven ! 

I  do  beseech  you,  bear  with  my  caprice. 

It  is  my  way,  being  too  hot  of  brain, 

When  aught  hath  stirred  these  rebel  spirits  up, 

Dull  walls  cannot  contain  me ;  shall  we  forth  ? 

Donna  V.  Gladly,  fair  sir ;  your  madness  is  infectious. 

Don  Alonzo.  I  pray  you,  do  forgive  me.     I  am  bold ; 
But  when  this  sudden  tempest  vents  itself, 
You'll  find  me  passing  humble. 

Donna  V.  Let  us  forth.          [Exeunt. 

SCENE  VII.     Another  room   in  the  same  Castle — Enter 
DONNA  VIOLA. 

Donna  V.  Now,  were  I  not  so  vowed  to  my  revenge 
So  arm'd  and  steel'd  against  the  approach  of  love, 


36  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

That  Cupid's  self,  with  all  his  darts,  would  fail 
To  pierce  my  encas'd  heart — 'twere  conquered  here  ! 
This  student  hath  a  princely  nobleness, 
As  though  he  were  the  child  of  pomp  and  power. 
Low-born  are  seldom  so;  yet,  well  I  know, 
Some  natures  are  there,  heedless  of  degree ; 
Whose  in-born  majesty,  of  God's  own  crowning, 
Shames  all  the  world's  poor,  puppet  dignities ! 
Kings,  and  their  courts,  in  life's  gay  Carnival, 
Strut  oft,  like  apes,  in  conquerors'  disguise ; 
But,  when  unhooded  greatness  walks  among  them, 
Their  pomp  and  tinsel  show  like  lamps  by  daylight ! 
Alonzo  I  could  love.     Yet,  I  am  free ! 
Victims  must  still  be  humbled  to  my  power; 
Still  must  I  make  night  smile,  to  con  again 
The  tale  of  each  day's  conquest.     Helena  ! 

[Enter  HELENA.] 

Bring  me  some  famous  bravery  of  dress. 
This  robber-gentle  is  my  guest  to-day. 
Let's  play  the  bandit.     Did'st  thou  never  hear 
Of  Donna  Cassima,  the  Moorish  lady, 
Who,  for  her  humor,  roved  the  mountains  once, 
Armed  cap-d-pie,  the  terror  of  the  passes  ? 
A  slender  sword  might  suit  this  figure  well ; 
Though  for  the  helm — but  haste,  methinks  he  comes  ! 

[Exeunt — After  a  little  time 
Re-enter  HELENA  with  CARLOS.] 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  37 

Helena.  Is  he  not  noble,  Carlos  ?     0,  the  Hector ! 
With  what  a  fearful  flourish  strode  he  in ! 
I  wonder,  when  he  seized  you  on  your  road, 
You  did  not  die  from  fright  at  him.     And  yet 
So  handsome,  too !     Good  lack,  this  lady  of  ours 
Weareth  some  wondrous  spell,  to  tame  such  hearts. 
Would  I  could  learn  it  too !     'Twould  be  my  fortune. 

Carlos.  I  do  believe  you,  there's  some  magic  in  it. 

Helena.  Yet  would  I  fear  to  be  alone  with  him, 
As  she  sits  now. 

Carlos.  In  honesty — so  would  I ; 

Though  I  did  cross  my  maiden  sword  with  his. 
I  wonder,  now,  I  dared  j  he  is  one  of  those 
Who  carry  thunder  on  their  dark  knit  brows ; 
His  close  teeth  glisten,  like  the  flash  of  knives, 
When,  from  beneath  his  bearded  lip,  he  smiles  j 
His  deep  voice  mocks  the  tiger's  angry  roar; 
All  things  about  him  speak  ferocity. 

Helena.  Yet  now,  he's  whispering  a  tale  of  love ; 
Hark,  through  the  half-closed  door  we  scarce  can  hear  it. 
Such  might  soft  passions  have  to  rule  the  fierce  ! 

Carlos.  Aye,  but  the  end,  Helena,  comes  not  yet. 

Helena.  Hast  any  fears  ? 

Carlos.  I  have ;  but  it  were  vain 

To  call  up  ghosts  we  cannot  lay  again.  [Exeunt. 


38  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 


SCENE  VIII.     The  same— Enter  DONNA  VIOLA  and 
ROMULO,  the  Bandit. 

Donna  V.  For  this  time,  Romulo,  farewell.     A  week 
Passed  over — be  thou  here  my  guest  again. 

Romulo.  Hard  clemency  !  But,  I  have  pledged  my  honor, 
And,  this  time,  must  abide  it.     Yet  know,  lady, 
I  am  a  man  much  more  of  deeds  than  words; 
And,  what  this  passion  may  inflame  me  to, 
Failing  love's  substance,  as  you  seem  to  proffer 
Its  shadow  for  my  bait,  I  dare  not  limit. 
/  love  thee  ;  and,  where  Romulo  hath  loved, 
Death  or  possession  follows  !  [Exit. 

Donna  V.  Ha !  'tis  well. 

I  am  almost  frighted.     Yet,  I  do  not  fear  him  ! 
'Twill  be  a  duller  day  than  any  yet, 
When,  with  my  woman's  wit,  I  may  not  match 
The  full  strength  of  one  man  !     Well,  I  am  weary. 
Off  with  these  trappings.     'Twas  a  feverish  scene  ! 
To-morrow  will  I  cool  my  o'er-stirred  heart 
With  a  pure  pastoral.     Carlos  ! 

Enter  CARLOS. 

Carlos.  Here,  my  lady. 

Donna  V.  Was  I  not  told  that  thou  had'st  found    the 

fields 
Where  Pietro,  the  peasant,  feeds  his  flocks  ? 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  89 

Carlos.  'Twas  so,  my  lady. 

Donna  V.  Now,  then,  for  my  rest. 

To  dream  of  shepherd's  pipes.     No  more  banditti ! 

[Exeunt. 


SCENE  IX.    A  chamber — DONNA  VIOLA  is  seen  reclining 
on  a  couch. 

Donna  V.  Twas   but  a  vision  !     Why  is  my  sleep  so 

broken  ? 

Unhallowed  thoughts  are  trooping  thro'  my  brain, 
Marshalled  by  her  I  dread,  the  false  Ismena ! 
Away  !  I'll  yield  no  more  ;  come,  softly,  sleep ! 

Enter  the  Witch,  IsMENA. 
What  would'sU/iowJ" 
Ismena.  Thee ! 

Donna  V.  I  am  not  thine,  nor  will  be! 

Take  back  thy  spells,  and  leave  me ! 

Ismena.  I  cannot; 

The  charm  Hell  wove,  Hell  never  can  unwind ! 

Donna  V.  Yet  leave  me;  for  my  heart  hath  learned  to 

hate  thee ! 
I  charge  thee,  hence;  tempt  my  weak  soul  no  farther! 

[IsMENA  gesticulates  violently,  as  if  struggling  with 
an  invisible  Power ;  and  at  length,  with  a  wild 
slir id?)  disappea rs . ] 
No  more  I'll  sleep  alone,  nor  in  this  place; 


40  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Her  vanished  shape  hath  shed  a  gloom  around, 

That  chills  my  very  soul !     0,  it  is  fearful 

To  tamper  with  such  spirits  in  their  might, 

For  our  small,  selfish  ends !     In  this  still  hour, 

How  strangely  changed  look  all  life's  tangled  schemes; 

And  that  which,  in  the  day,  would  cause  but  mirth, 

Stalking  in  night  and  silence,  most  appals  me  ! 

I'll  think  no  more;  each  shadow  grows  a  ghost; 

Hence,  hence!  [Exit. 

SCENE  X.  AnotJier  room  in  Algolar  Castle — Enter  CARLOS 
and  HELENA. 

Helena.  Ha!  ha!  ha!  Ha!  ha!  0,  Carlos,  if  thou 
could  'st  but  have  seen  that  sport !  To  see  our  lady,  there, 
all  in  plain  rustic  trim,  playing  the  diffident  with  that  love- 
smitten  clown !  La!  la! 

Carlos.  Did  he  not  seem  to  know  her  ? 

Helena.  Know !  why,  the  poor  fool  knew  nothing.  Here 
was  he,  as  it  were,  sometimes  sitting  down  and  sometimes 
standing,  and  then  walking  around  and  around  her — anon 
falling  on  both  knees  before  her,  taking  up  her  two  lily 
hands  as  though  he  would  swallow  them  both  whole,  the 
oaf! 

Carlos.  And  how  did  she  play  her  part  the  while? 

Helena.  Oh  !  most  gently  and  perfectly.  None  of  your 
stage-players  could  come  up  with  her.  There  sat  she,  on  a 


41 

little  rock  by  the  great  olive  tree,  with  her  hands  in  her  lap, 
so — and  a  face  more  innocent  than  the  image  of  the  Virgin 
in  yon  chapel.  A  good  play,  sure,  it  was. 

Carlos.  Did  they  say  nothing  ? 

Helena.  So  much  of  nothing  that  I  could  not  remember 
the  hundredth  part  of  it;  and  yet  it  was  nothing,  after  all. 
I  only  know  that,  if  I  had  not  smothered  my  laughter  with 
coughing,  it  must  have  gone  very  ill  with  me.  "  Sweet 
maiden,"  said  he,  "is  thy  name  Carlotta  V  "No,  sweet 
youth,"  answered  the  lady,  "it  is  Viola."  "Sweet  Viola, 
it  should  have  been  Carlotta;  that  were  a  prettier  name. 
My  sister,  and  my  mother,  and  my  grandame,  wear  that 
name."  "  Well,  fair  Pietro,  I  will  wear  any  name  thou  like, 
so  thou  wilt  love  me  in  it."  And  with  that  the  poor  sheep, 
with  less  wit  than  any  ram  in  his  flock,  grew  so  over-deep 
in  his  new  madness  of  love,  that  he  lay  there  gazing  in  a 
sort  of  dream  ;  till  the  oilier  sheep  wandered  off  a  good  half 
mile  or  so — and  none  but  the  lady  herself  could  get  him  to 
run  and  fetch  them  back  again. 

Carlos.  Dost  thou  know  what  new  game  is  toward  ? 

Helena.  No,  not  I. 

Carlos.  Our  lady  bade  me,  when  this  storm  came  up,  keep 
an  eye  over  the  road,  to  see  what  traveller  came  by. 

Helena.  Did'st  thou  see  any  one  ? 

Carlos.  Aye,  just  before  I  came  in  hither.  I  have  orders 
to  stop  him,  and  bid  him  take  shelter  from  the  rain  in  this 

castle. 

4* 


42 

Helena.  0  !  more  pastime !  What  was  it  like,  good  Car 
los? 

Carlos.  I  think,  a  Moor;  but  yet,  a  very  proper  man 
withal;  lion-like  in  port;  swarthy,  and  stately,  and  yet 
graceful,  too. 

Helena.  A  Moor  !  Faith,  I  love  Moors !  If  the  mistress 
will  not  have  him,  he  shall  not  pass  me  without  a  smile,  I 
warrant.  It  is  my  turn  to  have  sport  now,  when  she  begins 
to  tire  of  them. 

Carlos.  Oh,  Helena!  to  talks  of  Moors  and  cast-offs, 
when  here  am  I,  so  fond,  so  fervently  amorous — 

Helena.  Thou,  indeed !  Think  you  the  mistress  shall  have 
a  twenty  or  more,  each  as  handsome  as  the  king,  and  I  am 
to  be  content  with  a  buckram  page  that  hath  not  a  beard  an 
inch  long?  Away,  Carlos! 

Carlos.  Well,  I  must  away  now,  indeed ;  for  I  am  bid  to 
be  ambassador  in  the  rain  to  Seiior  don  Moor,  bulow  there ; 
and  that  is  no  dry  sport,  forsooth.  [Exeunt. 


SCENE  XI.  The  gateoftfie  same  Castle — A  stormy  niyht — 
Enter  SILVIO,  CARLOS,  and  ABDALLAII,  a  Moorish 
knight. 

Carlos.  My  mistress  bids  me  to  entreat  you,  sir, 
Brave  not  the  terrors  of  both  storm  and  night, 
But  enter  hither. 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  43 

Abdallali.  A  most  kind  request. 

Would  I  were  worthier  of  it !     Tell  her  that  I 
Am  of  a  race  her  fathers  warred  against ; 
I  come,  to  seek  my  old  ancestral  graves ; 
And  there  find  record,  writ  in  tears  and  blood, 
Of  their  most  warlike  deeds. 

Carlos.  Still  are  you  welcome. 

Those  ancient  feuds  were  buried,  long  ago ; 
And,  were  our  dearest  foes  unhoused  to-night, 
No  Christian  door  were  closed. 

Abdallah.  True,  nor  Moor's  neither. 

I'll  enter  with  thee. 

[Exeunt  CARLOS  and  ABDALLAH.] 

Silvio.  Here  are  brave  doings,  indeed.  When  the  last 
of  the  Moors  sleeps  a  night  in  the  house  where  the  King  of 
Spain  dined  the  other  day,  old  things  may  become  new  again. 
One,  two,  three,  four,  five,  six;  why,  upon  this  reckoning,  of 
all  the  days  in  the  week,  she  hath  left  but  one  for  the  Church  ! 
A  good  mass  it  should  be,  then,  to  do  the  business  of  the 
whole  seven  !  But,  I  fear  me,  the  White  Witch  stands  in 
the  way  of  that.  Ah,  well !  let  the  spit  turn  and  turn, 
and  when  the  hare  is  roasted,  it  will  sing.  Let  go,  let  all 
go,  I  say  ! 

[Goes  in  and  shuts  the  gate.~\ 


44  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 


ACT    IV. 

SCENE  I.  A  room  in  Algolar  Castle— Enter  DONNA  VIOLA 
and  CALVAR,  Duke  of  Bilbao. 

Duke  C.  Once,  Viola,  you  were  less  cold  to  me. 

Donna  V.  You  were  not,  then,  yourself  so  over-bold. 

Duke  C.  Should  not  love  grow  ?     Should  it  not  speak, 

and  look, 

Aye,  and  act,  too  ?     Why  did  you  win  my  love ; 
And,  having  lost  it,  charm  it  back  again, 
If  'tis  but  thus  to  hold  me  at  your  beck, 
For  sport  and  torment,  like  a  cage*d  bird  ? 
I  will  not  bear  it ! 

Donna  V.  Nay,  but  you  must,  my  lord. 

Duke  C.    Why  do  you  treat  me  so  ? 

Donna  V.  For  my  revenge;  no  more  ! 

Duke  C.  Then  be  it  thwarted.    I  have  let  loose  the  reins 
On  passion's  neck  :  onward  ! 

[Approaches  lier  impetuously. .] 

Donna  V.  [Retreating]     My  lord,  you  near  me  at  your 
peril. 

Duke  C.  Ha,  ha  ! 

Thou  little  wren,  dar'st  thou  the  lion's  paw  ? 
I  am  roused ;  sweet  devil,  charming  ruin,  thou — 
Fly  not,  'tis  vain ! 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  45 

Donna  V.  Then,  if  no  other  safety, 

[The  Duke  seizes  her — DONNA  V.  suddenly  draws  a 

dagger  from  her  bosom,  and  stabs  him.~] 
This  must  be  mine  !     Thou  double-hearted  villain, 
If  I  had  loved  thee  still,  or  thou  or  I 
Had  thus  atoned  thy  fault ;  now,  it  is  well. 

Duke  C.  0,  serpent !   thou  hast  stung  me !     Punished, 

punished !  [Dies. 

Donna  V.  This,  then,  is  death; — a  cold,  strange,  horrid 

sight ! 

And  have  /done  it,  with  this  trembling  hand? 
Now  that  'tis  done,  methinks  I  am  slain  myself ! 
Help,  Helena  !     Will  no  one  hear  me  ?     Help, 
Carlos !  [Throius  herself  upon  a  couch.'] 

Still,  still  alone  ?     I  must  go  forth,  and  seek 
Some  friendly  witness  to  this  bloody  deed. 
0,  how  I  shake !     Thou  shalt  play  false  no  more ; 

[Looking  on  the  Duke.~] 

No  more  spend  husband's  fondness  at  thy  home, 
Fresh  gathered  from  my  lips  !     Once,  I  did  love  thee  ! 
But  now,  remorse  hath  lost  a  pang  in  knowing 
It  was  not  all  revenge  :  thine  act  compelled  it ! 

[Exit. 
[Enter,  shortly,  CARLOS,  SERVANTS,  and  HELENA, 

who  cries  out.~\ 

Carlos.  No  words,  no  words ;  let  all  be  done  in  silence. 
Take  it  up,  and  bear  him  hence.     I  lead  the  way. 
[Exeunt,  bearing  the  body  of  die  Duke.~\ 


46  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 


SCENE  II.  A  forest — Enter  CARLOS  and  SERVANTS,  lear- 
ing  the  Duke's  loJy. 

Carlos.  Stop ;  lay  him  here ;  close  to  the  open  road. 
Go,  some  one,  bring  his  horse,  and  tie  it  near. 
'Twill  thus  be  thought  he  has  been  slain  by  robbers. 

Servant.  I  doubt,  'twill  long  be  thought  so. 

Carlos.  Well,  no  matter. 

;Tis  said  that  murder,  done  in  deepest  night, 
In  the  most  stillest  spot,  without  a  sound, 
Has  yet,  in  course  of  watchful  Providence, 
Been  traced  to  the  doer.     But,  were  this  proclaimed, 
The  common  heart  of  human  kind  would  judge  it 
As  less  than  murder.     Looks  it  not  so  to  you  ? 

Servants.  Yes,  yes  ! 

Carlos.  Then  thus  our  mouths  are  sealed.     Return. 

[Exeunt. 

SCENE  III.     A  room  in  Alyolar  Castle—Enter  DONNA 
VIOLA  and  HELENA. 

Donna  V.  Is't  not  the  Sabbath,  Helena? 

Helena.  It  is. 

Donna  V.  Go,  bid  one  bring  a  priest.     This  dagger-work 
Hath  left  a  heavy  sickness  on  my  heart. 
Thou  know'st  I  am  not  over  full  of  faith  ; 
But,  if  there  be  in  heavenly  conjuration 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  47 

Aught  that  can  give  the  wounded  spirit  ease, 

I  want  it  now.     'Tis  true,  priests  are  not  angels. 

I  doubt,  they  are  all  quite  human.     Bring  one  hither. 

Helena.  Who  shall  it  be,  my  lady  ?     Father  Simon, 
White-haired,  and  bowed  with  years  and  penances  ? 

Donna  V.  No  !  What  have  I  to  do  with  hoary  age  ? 
;Tis  the  young,  only,  know  what  youth  can  feel. 
Bring  me  that  Gabriel,  whom  I  once  have  seen, 
Shriving  a  dying  villager.     Thou  know'st  him  ? 

Helena.  Right  well.     'Tis  said,  a  truly  pious  priest. 

Donna  V.  Would  I  could  think  as  much  of  all  his  order ! 
Go,  send  for  him ;  I  wait  him  on  the  moment.  [Exit. 

Helena.  Here  is  a  new  caprice,  indeed !  Within  this  castle, 
Save  for  the  rites  of  death,  these  twenty  years, 
Old  Silvio  tells,  no  holy  man  hath  been. 
I  trust,  it  bodes  but  good ;  yet,  by  her  eye, 
He  must  be  steel'd  in  Faith's  most  trusty  armor, 
And  wear  his  visor  down,  whose  soul  meets  hers, 
And  bears  no  scathe.     God  send  us  better  thoughts  ! 

[Exit. 


SCENE  IV.       The  same— Enter  DONNA  VIOLA  and 
GABRIEL,  the  Priest. 

Gabriel.  God's  blessing  be  upon  thee,  noble  lady. 
Donna  V.  I  thank  you,  reverend  sir.     Behold  in  me, 
One  to  the  church  a  stranger ;  all  unused 


48  WOMAN'S  WITCIICRAFT. 

To  forms,  and  canons,  and  all  holy  things. 
In  brief,  I  have  no  faith  !     But,  sick  of  soul, 
I  longed  to  ask  thee,  can  thine  office  help  me  ? 

Gabriel.  He  whom  I  serve  hath  help  for  all,  niy  lady. 

Donna  V.  Forgive,  then,  my  unsaintly  mien  and  speech, 
And — forget  thine  ordained  authority. 
I  know  not,  care  not  aught  for  solemn  pomp ; 
As  man  with  woman,  hear  and  speak  with  me  ! 

Gabriel  Lady,  I  am  but  man,  as  thou  art  woman. 

Donna  V.  Then,  can'st  thou  feel  for  me  ?     Hast  thou  a 

heart  ? 
Did  ever  passion  set  on  fire  thy  blood  ? 

Gabriel.  I  have  a  heart  ;  but  never  yet  loved  woman, 
Save  with  affection,  and  pure  charity. 

Donna  V.  A  man,  yet  ne'er  hast  loved !     Pray,  look  on 

me; 

I  fain  would  read  some  meaning  in  thine  eyes ; 
Gaze  not,  so  statue-like,  upon  the  floor  ! 
Can'st  thou  not  love  ?     Come;  take  this  hand  in  thine; 
Is  it  not  gentle  ?  {Touching  his  clasped  hands. 

Gabriel.  Pardon  me,  noble  lady. 

Donna  V.  Are  priests  forbidden  to  be  courteous  ? 
Take  it,  and  clasp  it ;  there's  no  infection  in  it. 

Gabriel.  Pardon  me,  lady !     0,  too  tempting  madness  ! 

\_Asidc. 

Donna  V.  Thou  art  as  cold  as  marble  !     Why  ?     Those 
eyes 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  49 

Are  beautiful;  that  cheek  hath  a  young  glow, 

Thriving  mid  penance,  like  a  rose  in  winter : 

I  cannot  think  thee  but  a  heartless  statue ! 

Look  upon  me; 

Flatterers  have  called  me  beauteous;   think'st  thou  so? 

There  is  a  ruddy  ripeness  in  my  cheek, 

JTis  true,  and  on  my  lip  a  redder  glow; 

And  I  am  light  of  form,  and  quick  in  step, 

Bird-like  when  joyous,  tenderest  when  saddened ; 

In  all  things  warm,  impulsive,  passionate. 

Yet,  did  I  proffer  thee  my  virgin  love, 

Called  thee  my  own,  caressed  and  cherished  thee, 

Told  thee,  "  Sweet  Gabriel,  I  am  thine  done  !" 

Yet  would'st  thou  stand  off  from  these  opened  arms, 

Gabriel !  And  leave  them  empty  !     Would'st  thou  not  ? 

Gabriel.  Ay,  would  I,  lady  ! 

Donna  V.  Then  thou  art  heartless,  truly  ! 

Gabriel.  0,  no,  no,  no  ! 

Donna  V.  They  tell  me  of  a  canon 

Making  all  love  forbidden  fruit  to  you. 
But  can  such  be  divine  ?     No,  never,  never  ! 
Nature  is  eloquent  to  plead  its  wrong ; 
Wherefore  should  man  thus  war  against  all  nature  ? 
I  tell  thee,  hoary  ages  cannot  plant 
Respect  upon  the  brows  of  such  gross  error. 
But,  man !  I  waste  my  words.      Thou  hast  no  heart ! 

Gabriel.  Lady,  I  have  ! 
5 


50  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Donna  V.  A  heart,  that  holds  no  passion ! 

Galricl.  My  passions  are  as  warm  and  strong  as  thine  ! 

Donna  V.  Then,  wherefore  now  so  calm  ? 

Gabriel.  \_R ising  from  his  seat.~]     0  help  me,  Heaven! 

[Aside. 

Calm,  didst  thou  say  ?     Yes,  the  great  heavens  are  calm, 
That  give  forth  thunders  with  a  moment's  warning; 
And  the  volcano's  crater — it  is  calm, 
'Ere  it  bursts  forth,  as  tho'  all  hell  were  wakened  ! 
I,  too,  am  calm; — but,  in  this  heart's  volcano, 
Passions  are  sleeping,  deeper  than  tragedy; 
Stronger  than  death;  more  fearful  than  the  grave; 
Which,  were  they  not  locked  fast  by  love  of  Heaven, 
Would  make  thee  tremble  with  their  lightest  whisper! 

Donna  V.  Fair  sir,  forgive  me ;  reverend  sir,  I  wronged 
you. 

Gabriel.  Daughter,  thou  wrong'st  me  not,  nor  need'st  my 

pardon. 

I  came  to  offer  thee  my  humble  counsel; 
If  thou  dost  need  none,  duty  calls  me  hence. 

Donna  V.  I  do,  I  do ;  rny  heart  is  dark  and  blind ! 

Gabriel.  Knowest  thou  not  the  teachings  of  our  faith  ? 

Donna  V.  I  know  not  what  faith  is ;  the  very  babe, 
School'd  to  its  cradle-prayers,  knows  more  than  I. 

Gabriel.  Knowest  thou,  then,  thine  own  lieart? 

Donna  V.  I  never  conned  it ! 

Gabriel.  Then  let  me  paint  it  to  thee. — It  is  evil; 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  51 

Full  of  wrong  thoughts  and  evil  impulses ; 
Each  lightning  impulse  mad  to  spring  in  action  ! 

Donna  V.  How  dost  thou  know  me  so  ?     I  did  not  tell 
thee! 

Gabriel.  'Tis  but  the  story  of  each  human  soul ! 
Alas,  I  know  it  well; — 'tis  mine  ! 

Donna  V.  Jlast  thou,  too,  erred? 

Gabriel.  Lady,  as  full  as  charnel-house  of  bones, 
Or  the  salt  sea  of  things  that  creep  and  swim, 
So  full  my  heart  is  of  corruption ! 

Donna  V.  What  can  I  hope,  then  ?     If  the  best  are  so, 
What  room  in  heaven  for  mef 

Gabriel  'Tis  not  by  merit; 

But,  by  God's  mercy — best  and  worst  are  equal, 
If  all  but  will  receive  it. 

Donna  V.  That  is  wondrous. 

Thou  hast  put  thoughts  into  my  inmost  heart, 
That  stir  it,  as  leviathans  the  deep ! 

Gabriel.  Rather,  dear  lady,  may  they  prove  as  angels, 
Moving  it  like  Bethesda;  whence  may  come 
Healing,  and  life,  and  hope ! 

Donna  V.  Leave  me  awhile; 
I  fain  would  ponder  o'er  what  thou  hast  said. 

Gabriel.  Take,  then,  this  scroll  with  thee,  and  con  it  well. 
The  whole  world  were  not  worth  it,  read  aright. 

[Exit. 

Donna  V.  Most  strange,  I  thought  not  on  these  things 
before ! 


52  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 


SCENE  V.     The  same  — MANET  DONNA  VIOLA  in  a  mu- 
siiuj  attitude.    [Enter  CARLOS.] 

Carlos.  Madam,  a  knight,  full-armed,  and  in  hot  haste, 
Demands  quick  audience  of  your  ladyship. 

Donna  V.  Admit   him,   Carlos.     What   can   his  errand 
mean? 

[Exit  CARLOS. 
I  trust,  no  sudden  mischief  of  the  King's ! 

[Enter  DON  ALONZO,  in  armor  ;  his  face  concealed  l>y  Jit's 

vizor."] 

Don  Alonzo.  This  bold  intrusion,  lady,  in  a  stranger, 
Craves  more  excuse  than  time  alloweth  me. 
I  come,  to  warn  you  of  impending  peril. 
Another  hour  will  bring  upon  this  castle 
The  fiercest  siege  of  Romulo's  banditti ! 

Donna  V.  Romulo? — 'tis  fearful!     But,  pray,  who   art 

thou, 
Thus  watchful  of  our  safety,  and  his  onslaught? 

Don  Alonzo.  A   nameless  knight,  in  the  king's  service, 

madam; 

One  vowed  to  serve  the  right  and  quell  the  wrong, 
Against  all  odds.     A  message  from  his  highness 
Bore  me,  with  one  attendant,  to  these  hills ; 
Thus,  by  some  accident,  or  Providence, 
(As  well  I  deem  that  Providence,  whose  guidance 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  53 

Against  my  forethought,  urged  me  to  such  ends;) 
I  overheard  the  project  of  these  ruffians. 
Now,  is  the  time  most  urgent.     My  fleet  horse, 
With  his  Arabian  speed,  alone  had  brought  me ; 
They  press  upon  my  heels.     I  beg  you,  lady, 
Arm  all  your  vassals;  double  bar  the  gates; 
Man  every  height,  and  bid  all  call  me  leader ! 

Donna  V.  Sir  Knight,  it  shall  be  done;    and  all  true 

thanks 
That  warmest  heart  can  offer,  shall  be  yours ! 

Don  Alonzo.  No  time  for  thanks,  dear  lady ;  this  quick 

danger 

Alarums  all  our  faculties  to  action. 
Not  till  the  quiet  of  accomplish'd  peace, 
May  gratulation,  like  the  rainbow's  arch, 
O'erspan  the  cloudy  heaven  of  our  thoughts. ' 
I  go — to  the  rescue ! 

Donna  V.  All  shall  follow  you ! 

[Exeunt. 

SCENE  VI.     The  gateway  of  the  same  Castle — Enter 
ROMULO,  with  banditti. 

Romulo.  Halt.     Stand  in  silence,  while  I  win  admission ; 
Then,  on  the  instant,  follow  me,  and  enter ! 

[Knocks  at  the  gate.~] 

What,  ho  !  within  there  !     Is  the  old  man  asleep  ? 

5* 


54 

By  my  old  namesake,  who  first  founded  Rome, 
I'll  wake  him  presently,  if  he  be  dead ! 
Within  there  !  ho  ! — a  friend  ! 

[A  trumpet  sounds."] 
What  trump  is  that  ? 

Can  it  be  Roderick's  ?     Hath  he  had  time  to  reach 
The  farthest  tower? 

A  Bandit.  I  think  he  has  not; 

And  'tis  not  thus  he  blows. 

Romulo.  Then,  'tis  some  other  ! 

Haste,  let  us  force  this  crazy  gate  at  once, 
Or  we  have  lost  our  time. 

[Enter  DON  ALONZO,  with  CARLOS,  and  armed  vassals.'} 

Don  Alonzo.  Hold,  caitiffs,  hold  ! 

Here  are  live  walls  to  batter ;  spare  our  gates ! 
On,  to  the  rescue ! 

[  Vassals  charge;  exeunt  omnes}  fighting.  Presently,  re- 
enter  DON  ALONZO  and  CARLOS,  with  others,  bringing 
ROMULO,  disarmed  and  wounded.] 

Don  Alonzo.  Bind  him,  and  prison  him  in  your  strongest 

hold, 

To  wait  the  pleasure  of  his  majesty. 
I  go,  to  follow  up  the  hot  pursuit. 
Carlos — remember  me  to  thy  noble  mistress ; 
Tell  her,  the  stranger  knight  hath  errands  onward; 
But,  if  sweet  leisure  wait  upon  his  arms, 
He  will  not  fail  to  pay  her  due  respect.  [Exit. 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  55 

Carlos.  Silvio  !  Silvio ! 

Silvio  [within.']  Aye,  aye,  there,  hearties!     Coming! 

[Opens  the  yate.~\ 

What !  have  ye  bagged  the  game  ?     Ugh !  the  he-wolf ! 
Pull  out  his  teeth,  Carlos,  and  cut  his  ham-strings ; 
And  shut  him  up,  where  he'll  breed  no  little  wolves. 
[They  go  in,  and  close  the  gate.~\ 


56  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 


ACT    V. 

SCENE  I.    A  forest — Enter  DON  ALONZO  and  ABDALLAH, 
the  'Moor. 

Don  Alonzo.  Dost  not  remember  me  ? 

Abdallah.  Aye,  well;  too  well! 

I  never  can  forget  that,  five  years  since, 
In  Algiers,  when  a  false  slave's  scimitar 
Was  at  my  throat,  your  strong  hand  flung  him  from  me, 
And  saved  my  life  ! 

Don  Alonzo.  Then  wouldst  thou  now  seek  mine  ? 

Abdallah.  Hear  me,  sir  knight ! — I  love  you,  honor  you ; 
And,  with  the  best  blood  of  my  very  heart, 
"Would  I  defend  you,  in  the  battle's  midst ; 
But,  now,  a  whirlwind  passion  rules  my  soul, 
That  sweeps  all  else  to  the  clouds  !     I  love  this  lady, 
Whom  you  have  sworn  your  love  shall  yield  to  none ; 
Hence,  the  link'd  battlements  of  the  world's  four  corners, 
Bristling  with  arms,  keep  not  my  sword  from  thine, 
Whilst  this  hand  lives  to  wield  it !     Draw,  I  say  ! 

Don  Alonzo.  I  will  not  draw  upon  thee ;  we  are  friends. 

Abdallah.  Out  with  thy  sword !     We  are  foes  !     Both 

shall  not  live ; 
If  I  slay  thee,  'tis  well ; — if  thou  slay  me, 


WOMAN'S  WITCPICRAFT.  57 

'Twere  better  still ! — Then,  this  poor  play  is  over ; 

This  masque  of  life,  with  which  my  soul  is  weary  j 

Where  some  are  striving  to  seem  what  they  are  not, 

And  some  to  be  what  they  can  never  reach, 

And  some  are  suffering  for  what  they  are ; 

Of  all  I  am  weary  :  let  the  curtain  fall ! 

Or — let  it  rise  on  fortune,  if  Fate  wills  it ! 

Man,  thou  shalt  fight  me; — out  with  that  laggard  sword  ! 

Now  let  the  word  be,  death  or  Viola! 

[  They  fight — ABDALLAH  is  disarmed  and  thrown  to  the 

ground.] 

Don  Alonzo.  Live,  Moor !   And  to  thy  distant  home  re 
turned, 
Remember,  twice  a  Christian  saved  thy  life  ! 

Abdallali.  Thus   to   live  now,  were  slavery. — Die,  thou 
dog! 

[Draws  a  dagger,  and  springs  at  DON  ALONZO.] 
Don  Alonzo.  Ungrateful !     Not  quelled  yet  ? 
[They  struggle;  at  length  DON  ALONZO  obtains  the  dagger, 
and  wounds  ABDALLAH  mortally. .] 

Such  is  barbarian  blood ! 

Wert  thou  a  Christian,  I  would  not  have  killed  thee ; 
'Twas  thine  own  savageness  thus  brought  it  on. 
Yet,  0  !  what  grief,  for  noble  blood  thus  shed ! 
How  all  good  angels  in  yon  heaven  must  weep, 
To  see  fierce  passions  thus  make  foul  the  earth  ! 
Shame  on  thee,  sword  ! — Would  I  had  never  loved, 
Rather  than  love  should  spur  me  to  such  deeds  !         [Exit. 


58  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 


SCENE  II.     A  priest's  cell— Enter  FATHER  GABRIEL,  and 
DON  ALONZO. 

Don  Alonzo.  I  come  to  seek  thine  holy  aid,  good  father. 

Gabriel.  Call  me  not  good ;  I  am  as  weak  as  thou. 
All  are  but  beggars  for  the  alms  of  Christ ; 
And  oft  the  weakest  and  most  needy  bear 
The  message  of  his  bounty;  such  am  I. 
What  is  thy  need  ? 

Don  Alonzo.  Forgiveness  for  great  errors 

Of  hand  and  heart. 

Gabriel.  His  voice  who  can  forgive, 

My  words  may  feebly  echo.     Tell  me  of  them. 

Don  Alonzo.  Challenged  to  single  combat,  by  a  Moor, 
A  brave,  true  man,  but  mad  with  jealousy — 
Upon  the  quarrel  of  a  lady's  love, 
I  slew  him,  though  my  friend. 

Gabriel.  Was  the  strife  equal  ? 

Don  Alonzo.  Most  fair.    I  gave  him  once  his  life,  which  he 
Refused,  and  strove  to  smite  me  with  his  dagger. 

Gabriel.  I  cannot  blame  thee  for  the  deed ;  although 
Our  great  Example,  who  went  to  his  slaughter 
Lamb-like,  would  not  have  done  it,  and  although, 
E'en  in  the  hour  when  insult  maddened  you, 
His  word  would  yet  have  been,  "  Put  up  thy  sword  •" 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  59 

'Twill  still  be  pardon'd  thee.     The  perfect  day 
Has  not  yet  noon'd  on  earth. — What  else,  my  son  ? 

Don  Alonzo.  Alas  !  what  is  not  done,  but  doing  still ; 
This  fierceness  of  my  passion  for  those  charms 
Which  set  our  swords  to  warring. 

Gabriel.  Love  may  be  guiltless  ! 

Don  Alonzo.  But,  in  a  heart  where  Love  and  Death  once 

met, 

And  reared  sad  altars  over  buried  hopes — 
One  who  hath  loved,  and  lost,  earth's  last  perfection, 
(A  being,  Pleiad-like,  dropped  out  of  heaven, 
Too  soon  called  back  to  angels'  company) — 
0,  in  a  heart  thus  blessed,  and  thus  bereft, 
Seems  not  all  passion  an  unholy  guest  ? 

Gabriel.  My  son,  the  heart  hath  many  mansions  in  it ; 
Which,  when  the  soul  is  dedicate  to  God, 
All  glorious  attributes  of  manhood  fill. 
Thus,  in  its  innermost,  unwindow'd  chamber, 
Lit  from  the  skies  alone,  sweet  Memory  dwells ; 
But,  in  the  outer  palaces  of  Thought, 
The  wide,  warm  halls  where  busy  feelings  move, 
All  that  mars  not  God's  image  in  the  soul 
May  live,  profaning  not  the  sacred  Past ! 
Thou  hast  loved  once — forget  not — but  fear  not 
To  love  again — so  it  be  worthily  ! 

Don  Alonzo.  The  Lady  Viola 

Gabriel  She? 


60 

Don  Alonzo.  Why  dost  start  ? 

Tell  me,  why  is  it  ? 

Gabriel.  On  her  rests  a  curse, 

Which,  by  God's  blessing  on  my  fasts  and  prayers, 
I  have  discerned,  spite  of  her  spirit's  foes. 

Don  Alonzo.  Who  are  they  ? 

Gabriel.  Evil  spirits,  and  one,  leagued  with  such, 

Human  in  passion,  a  fiend  in  power  and  malice. 

Don  Alonzo.  The  curse;  what  is  it? 

Gabriel.  In  her  eye  and  lip, 

And  hand,  are  spells  no  mortal  can  resist, 
Save  by  a  miracle  like  that  of  old, 
Which  bade  the  sun  stand  still !    And  yet,  her  heart, 
Inspiring  love,  cannot  be  true  in  love. 

Don  Alonzo.  Thou  madden'st  me  !    0,  heaven !    Untrue, 

untrue  ? 
Thou  sayest,  a  curse; — is  there  no  remedy  ? 

Gabriel.  This,  too,  by  gift  divine,  I  have  discovered. 
When  she  shall  meet  the  man  who  in  himself 
Bears  all  perfections  that  have  won  her  most, 
And  from  her  sight  can  charm  away  all  else, 
His  love  revokes  the  spell,  and  she  is  free  ! 

Don  Alonzo.  0,  for  that  power !     Lives  there  so  blest  a 
man? 

Gabriel.  There  shines  a  heavenly  courage  in  thine  eye, 
And  a  strong  charm  of  youth  in  all  thy  actions, 
And  in  thy  words  a  spirit-winning  power, 
That  bid  me  hope,  such  triumph  might  be  thine  ! 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  61 

Don  Alonzo.  Then  let  me  strive  for  it,  'gainst  hell  itself! 

Gabriel.  Canst  thou  disguise  thyself? 

Don  Alonzo.  Most  readily. 

It  is  ray  habit,  under  a  student's  garb, 
To  hide  my  knightly  manners  and  estate. 
Already,  in  yon  castle  of  Algolar, 
Twofold  I  have  appeared ;  as  yet  unknown. 

Gabriel.  'Tis  well !  Her  guardian  angel  hath  flown  down, 
Heaven-sent,  to  guide  thee  to  her  rescue  !     Listen  ; 
Assume  this  priestly  dress;  push  back  thy  hair, 

So ; then,  as  in  my  stead,  go  visit  her ; 

Attack  her  secret  thoughts ;  win  all  her  trust ; 
Then,  as  thou  be'est  a  lover  and  a  man, 
Accomplish  all  the  rest. — Do  this  to-morrow ; 
I  promised,  then,  to  give  her  farther  counsel ; 
But,  on  some  pretext  of  more  urgent  duty, 
I  send  thee,  my  lieutenant.     Dost  thou  read  me? 

Don  Alonzo.  I  do,  kind  father.     If  this  plot  succeed, 
Thy  name  on  every  fibre  of  my  heart 
Is  written — and  shall  beat  through  every  pulse ; 
Gabriel — my  friend — my  messenger  from  Heaven ! 

[Exit  DON  ALONZO. 

Gabriel  (solus).  Peace,  battling  heart!     This  sacrifice  is 

sealed ; 

Hard  though  it  was  to  offer !     Now,  first  waked 
My  heart  from  its  dull  dream  of  apathy ; 
First  learned  that  it  could  feel,  and  leap,  and  throb, 
6 


G2  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

In  passion's  agony,  or  passion's  joy; 

Now,  in  the  vista  of  bright,  possible  things, 

Shone  love,  an  earthly  heaven — still  reaching  on, 

O'erleaping  death,  even  to  eternal  bliss  ! 

Yet  this — Hope's  paradise,  I  must  abandon ; 

Shutting  my  soul  up,  like  this  gloomy  cell, 

Against  the  very  light  and  breath  of  joy  ! 

Then,  be  it  so !     Father,  Thy  will  be  done ! 

Yet  pardon,  if  some  natural  regrets, 

Some  tearful  dallying  with  soon  parted  hopes, 

Make  this  day's  prayers  less  calm !  [Exit. 

SCENE  III.    A   room   in  Algolar   Castle— Enter   DONNA 
VIOLA,  and  DON  ALONZO,  disguised  as  a  priest. 

Don  Alonzo.  Daughter,  thy  brow  is  sad;  is't  ever  thus? 

Donna  V.  No ;  I  am  wild  of  spirit  as  the  wind ; 
And,  often,  blithe  as  the  brook's  summer  song ; 
But,  now,  the  words  of  Father  Gabriel 
Have  thrown  a  pensive  shadow  o'er  my  thoughts, 
Though  sad,  yet  sweet;  I  would  not,  now,  be  merry. 

Don  Alonzo.  Ever  more  peace  with  sadness  dwells,  than 
mirth. 

Donna  V.  0!  I  have  heard,  in  my  heart's  silent  halls, 
Echoes  as  solemn-sweet  as  vesper-bells ; 
Voices  that  sound  as  tho'  from  heaven  they  fell; 
And  all  do  question  me — "  0  wild,  wild  heart, 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  63 

Why  shake  not  off  these  foes  that  wreck  thy  peace  ?" 
Think' st  thou  a  curse  is  resting  on  me,  father? 
Else  why,  as  though  by  angel  ministry, 
Such  gentle  and  yet  fearful  warnings  come  ? 

Don  Alonzo.  Daughter,  our  whole  race  writhes  beneath 

the  curse 

Which  the  arch-enemy  won  long  ago.  » 

He  and  his  fiends  conspire  against  us  ;  yet 
They  can  but  offer  curses  for  our  choice, 
To  barter  blessings  with,  if  such  we  will ! 

Donna  V.  Neecis  it  our  will,  then  ? 

Don  Alonzo.  Aye. 

Donna  V.  Then  my  own  hand 

Hath  stirred  the  potion  that  doth  slay  my  soul ! 
The  witch,  Ismena,  darkly  tempted  me 
With  spells,  to  avenge  me  on  a  perjured  lover; 
Now,  doth  it  prove  my  curse  !     Deep,  subtle  fiend, 
0,  be  she  doubly  damned. 

Don  Alonzo.  'Tis  so,  I  doubt  not. 

Donna  V.  Then  is  there  hope  for  me?     Pray,  tell  me, 

father, 
This  mesh  of  hell,  can  it  be  torn  and  scattered  ? 

Don  Alonzo.  One,  only,  hath  the  power  this  to  ordain, 
And,  by  his  instruments,  to  work  thy  rescue. 

Donna  V.  Who— who? 

Don  Alonzo.  Thy  God. 

Donna  V.  Him  have  I  never  known  ! 


64  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Don  Alonzo.  Yet  bath  he  known  thee — aye,  and  loved 

thee,  too ! 

Lady,  where  slept  thine  eyes,  thine  ears,  thy  heart, 
That,  in  all  marvellous  things  of  earth  and  heaven, 
Thou  ne'er  didst  see,  hear,  feel,  and  taste  of  God  ? 
In  all  things  terrible,  His  might  is  shown ; 
Through  all  things  vast  shines  His  infinity ; 
Yet,  is  it  joy,  where  beauty  moves  and  dwells, 
To  read  the  tale  of  His  eternal  Love ! 
In  loveliness  of  the  sweet,  silent  flowers, 
Or  morning  melody,  of  spring-wakened  birds, 
Or  the  soft  light  of  stars  amid  the  blue  ! 
And,  still  more  deeply  have  I  learned  of  Him, 
In  His  own  chosen  temple  of  the  soul ; 
He,  whom  the  heaven  of  heavens  cannot  contain, 
Dwells  with  the  humbled  and  contrited  heart ! 

Donna   V.  These  words,  I  know  are  true; — deep,  deep 

within  me, 

Unheard  before,  an  echo  answers  them. 
Yet,  what  am  I  to  do,  or  speak,  or  think  ? 
How  learn  to  love,  obey,  and  worship ;  tell  me. 

Don  Alonzo.  All   this,  and  more    'twill   be   my  joy  to 

answer, 

When  a  more  fitting  leisure  waits  upon  us; 
Till  then — to  thine  own  thoughts  let  me  commend  thee. 
Now,  for  the  pressing  issue  of  this  time. 
It  is  the  blessed  task  of  human  love, 
To  break  the  rough  soil  of  the  rude,  hard  heart, 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  65 

That  love  divine  may  there  take  root,  and  flourish. 
Therefore  I  ask  thee — hast  tJwu  any  love? 

Donna  V.  Alas  !  here  dwells  the  shadow  of  my  curse ! 
As  I  should  love,  I  love  not  any  man; 
But  many  passions  war  within  my  heart — 
Like  hydra-heads,  each  living,  open-mouthed  ! 

Don  Alonzo.  Doth  none  prevail,  and  rule  above  the  rest  ? 

Donna  V.  Nay,  none.     Threefold  my  monster-passion  is. 
He,  whom  I  love  alone,  must  be,  in  one, 
Knight,  poet,  priest!     0,  were  there  such  a  man, 
He  were  my  dream !     For  these,  and  these  alone, 
And  these  together,  can  this  wilful  nature, 
More  fickle  far  than  the  unresting  clouds, 
Fix  its  firm  tendrils  on.     Thou  hast  my  answer. 

Don  Alonzo.  0  wild,  warm  hoart !     Would  I  had  power 

like  his, 

Who  smote  the  rock,  that  waters  eddied  from  it, 
So  might  I  bid  a  spring  gush  forth  for  thee, 
Which,  through  the  arid  desert  of  this  world 
Winding,  might  still  surround  thee  with  delight ! 
Such  is  true  love. — If  there  be  such  a  man, 
Lady,  thy  prayers  may  bring  him  to  thy  side. 
Ask  it  of  Heaven;  this  night,  on  bended  knees, 
Tell  me  thy  service  shall  be  offered  up ! 

Donna  V.  Father,  it  shall. 

Don  Alonzo.  Mine  join  it  then  !  Farewell. 

[Exit. 
6* 


66  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 


SCENE  IV.  The  gate  of  the  Castle  of  Aljolar— Enter 
from  without,  KING  PHILIP, — and  DON  ALONZO,  in 
priest's  dress ,  from  within  the  gate. 

Don  Alonzo.  Blessings  be  with  the  King ! 

King  Philip.  How  !     Dost  thou  know  me  ? 

Don  Alonzo.  Happy  the  man  who  knows  so  good  a  mon 
arch! 

I  know  you,  as  Spain's  honor' d  majesty; 
And,  in  the  name  of  Spain  and  of  the  church, 
I  ask  to  stay  your  present  entrance  here. 
The  lady  of  this  castle 

King  Philip.  What  of  her  ? 

Don  Alonzo.  There  dwells  a  fatal  sorcery  in  her  eyes ; 
Flee  from  their  fires,  or  they  may  burn  thy  soul ! 

King  Philip.  An  idle  tale  !     Art  thou  a  holy  man, 
And  think'st  to  fright  me  so? — If  it  le  thus, 
What  care  I  for  the  fiends  ?     Give  me  some  charm, 
Some  form  of  prayer,  to  quell  them.     I  will  enter. 

Don  Alonzo.  Yet  one  word  more !     The  mission  of  our 

order 

Giveth  them  frequent  access  to  the  court. 
Read  this  despatch ;  'tis  posted  from  Madrid. 

King  Philip.  Give  it  me,  then.  [Reads. 

"  As  to  affairs  of  war,  the  minister  hath  become  suddenly 
unpopular;  reasons  for  which,  Father  Francis  discerns  not 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  67 

yet;  he  will  consider  it.  Furthermore,  in  regard  to  the  Car 
dinal  Del  Giudice,  it  is  plainly  proven  that  he  hath  plots 
against  the  king ;  and,  on  the  advantage  of  his  present  ab 
sence,  coins  idle  rumors  to  his  injury." 

What !  does  he  so  !  The  mitred  hypocrite  ! 
Priest,  thou  say'st  well ;  I  will  to  horse  at  once ! 
Back  to  Madrid — the  villain  Cardinal ! 

[Exit. 

Don  Alonzo.  Thank  Heaven  for  this !     My  bird  of  Para 
dise, 

Thy  fowlers  all  are  foiled ;  thou  shalt  be  free ! 
And,  when  free,  mine ;  what  bliss  is  in  that  thought ! 

[Exit. 


SCENE  V.      The  Pyrenees}  at  night.     Enter  the  Witch, 

ISMENA. 

Ismena.  Come  they  not  yet  ?      Thrice  hath  my  midnight 

watch 

Out-looked  these  stars,  and  yet  they  answer  not. 
Hath  hell  its  sabbath-nights  ?     Or,  have  some  fears, 
Such  as  methought  their  nature  scouted  at — 
Some  holy  incantations,  good  men's  prayers, 
Or  aught  more  heavenly  still,  affrighted  them  ? 
I  will  not  thus  be  left  alone  in  evil ! 
Here,  where  they  won  my  ruin,  and  have  sought 
With  me  to  wreck  a  far  more  noble  being, 


68  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Conquered  or  conquering — they  shall  join  me  yet ! 
Hear  me,  false  fiends  !  Ismena  calls  upon  ye  ! 
Answer,  if  but  in  echoes  !     Speak  again  ! 

1st  Voice.  Again  ! 

Ismena.  Why  are  ye  silent  ?     Is  our  cause  so  lost  ? 

2d  Voice.  Lost,  lost ! 

Ismena.  Can  your  fell  craft  and  power  rule  here  no  more  ? 

3d  Voice.  No  more  ! 

Chorus  of  Evil  Spirits.  All  is  conquered;  let  us  flee! 
Yield  to  God  and  Destiny ! 
In  the  life  our  breath  had  blasted, 
All  our  curses  have  been  wasted  ! 
Pure  thoughts  dwell  where  crime  had  been ; 
Guileless  love  hath  conquered  sin  : 
Hell  is  baffled ;  let  us  flee  ! 
Other  prey  more  ripe  will  be ; 
Yield  we  to  our  destiny ! 

Ismena.  Lost,  lost,  lost! — Lost,  lost!  [Exit. 

SCENE  VI.     A  room  in  Algolar   Castle. —Enter  DONNA 
VIOLA,  and  DON  ALONZO,  in  student's  garl. 

Don  Alonzo.  Lady,  methought  Time  had  a  spite  against 

me, 

So  slowly  moved  his  wheels  to  bring  this  day ; 
But,  when  I  see  thee,  time  and  space  are  nought; 
Thy  charms  are  now,  to  me,  the  universe  ! 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  69 

Donna  V.  Fair  sir — in  the  horizon  of  my  soul, 
What  storms  have  passed,  within  one  little  week ! 
I  am  not  what  I  was ;  what  I  may  be, 
May  Heaven  direct ! 

Don  Alonzo.  Hath  some  misfortune  happened? 

Donna  V.  Aye,  and  good  fortune  too;  too  much  of  both! 

Don  Alonzo.  If  I  might  ask — 

Donna  V.  Nay,  I  will  tell  thee  all : 

I  need  thy  friendship. 

Don  Alonzo.  0,  wouldst  thou  call  it  love  ! 

Donna  V.  A  sudden  provocation  made  this  hand 
The  slayer  of  my  would-be  ravisher. 
So  much  of  evil :  to  tell  thee  of  the  good, 
Would  be  to  open  out  my  inmost  heart, 
And  mirror  there  new  hopes  of  Heaven's  mercy. 

Don  Alonzo.  0,  joy  for  that ! 

Donna  V.  The  curse  hath  been  discerned 

That  did  so  torture  all  my  life  to  folly; 
Its  very  source  and  root  have  been  dragged  out ; 
And  now,  it  but  remains,  with  aid  of  Heaven, 
To  plant  fair  love,  and  true  fidelity, 
Where  erst  had  been  most  rank  inconstancy. 

Don  Alonzo.  Might  I  but  aid  thee  ! 

Donna  V.  Thou  mayst  give  me  counsel. 

If  thou  canst  find  the  man  who  in  himself 
Bears  all  a  knight's  and  courtier's  dignity, 
But  hath  a  poet's  heart,  and  harp,  and  tongue, 


70  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

And  yet  to  God  is  ever  consecrate, 
Wearing  all  holy  thoughts  within  his  heart, 
Freely  to  give  them  voice — 0,  then,  then,  then 
This  riddle  of  my  strange,  unpeaceful  life 
Is  read,  and  my  heart's  foes  forever  crushed  ! 

Don  Alonzo.  Read,  of  my  story,  then,  one  little  line; 
Perchance  'twill  aid  thee  to  unravel  thine. 
[Removes  Ms  student's  liat  and  coat,  showing  a  2>riest's  dress 
underneath.] 

Donna  V.  Art  ttiou  that  priest  ?     Can  then  my  prayer  be 
answered  ? 

Don  Alonzo.  Daughter,  behold  in  me  thy  grave  confessor. 
Yet,  lest  thou  fear  the  miracle  be  not  perfect, 
Wait  one  more  change. 

[Throws  off  the  cowl  and  gown,  displaying  an  elegant 
knightly  costume. ~\ 

Now  am  I  all  myself ! 

Lady,  thy  faithful  servant  (in  Spain's  court 
The  Count  Alonzo,  kinsman  to  the  King — 
And  nephew  to  the  Duke  of  Bilbao), 
Holds  here,  his  proudest  and  most  happy  title, 
Sworn  lover  to  the  lady  Viola ! 

Donna  V.  Now  am  I  happy;  and  yet  so  amaz'd, 
I  cannot  tell  the  measure  of  my  bliss. 
Alonzo,  I  did  love  thee  more  than  all. 
And  yet  I  would  not,  dared  not,  could  not  think  it ; 
There  was  a  secret  magic  in  thy  presence, 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  71 

That — like  the  loadstone — ever  drew  me  to  thee; 

And,  as  the  harp  of  David  did  with  Saul, 

Thy  voice  calmed  all  my  strange,  unquiet  thoughts. 

I  feel  it ; — that  dark  spell  is  all  unwound ; 

The  craft  of  evil  spirits  hath  been  baffled ; 

And  I  am  free — and  love ; — thou  art  my  dream  ! 

Don  Alonzo.  Then  let  us,  of  these  new  and  budding  joys, 
Suffer  not  Time  to  steal  one  precious  leaf; 
I  go — to  win  our  marriage  of  the  King. 
One  short  farewell ;  sweet — may  it  be  the  last ! 

[Exit. 

Donna  V.  This,  then,  is  love. — 'Tis  sad  to  have  him  go, 
And  yet  that  sadness  troubles  not  my  bliss ; 
For  it  is  built  upon  his  noble  heart, 
And  tempests  cannot  move  it. — 0,  Alonzo  ! 
All  the  sweet  sounds  of  the  soft  Spanish  tongue 
Cannot,  together,  make  so  sweet  a  word, 
As  that  one  name !     Most  brave  and  noble  soul, 
Be  thou  less  great;  show  me  some  little  fault; — 
Lest  I  should  worship  thee ;  which  my  full  heart, 
New-pledged  to  love  the  God  who  made  us  both, 
Would  not  quite  do — yet  hardly  can  do  less  !  [Exit. 

SCENE  VII.   The  same— Enter  CARLOS  and  HELENA. 

Carlos.  Didst  thou  hear,  Helena,  that  our  Silvio  was  not 
out  of  his  bed  this  morning? 


72  WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT. 

Helena.  Why  no;  what  is  the  matter  with  the  old  Cer 
berus? 

Carlos.  By  my  faith,  he  swears  to  more  than  I  could  be 
lieve,  though  my  salvation  depended  on  it. 

Helena.  I  know  thou  art  not  given  to  much  believing.  If 
heaven  were  to  be  won  by  having  a  full  faith  in  nothing,  I 
warrant  thou  wouldst  be  the  first  to  be  saved.  But,  what 
said  the  old  man  of  himself? 

Carlos.  He  said now  I  cannot  tell  thee  just  what 

he  said,  he  hath  such  a  quaint  phrase  of  his  own ;  but  it  was 
of  this  sort,  forsooth  : — That,  at  the  last  minute  of  the  hour 
of  twilight,  yester-eve — 

Helena.  The  Witch's  hour? 

Carlos.  True— the  White  Witch's  hour.— At  that  time, 
he  saith,  a  terrible  hurly-burly  was  heard  without  the  walls 
of  the  castle ;  of  which  he,  being  a  brave  man,  and  having 
once  served  in  the  king's  guard,  was  fain  to  step  out  of  his 
gate,  to  discern  the  cause.  Whereupon  he,  Silvio,  saith  that 
he  was  immediately  stunned  deaf  with  the  noise ;  and  was 
lifted  up  in  the  air  by  a  sort  of  tempestuous  whirlwind,  which 
gave  him  no  more  eyes  nor  sense  for  anything,  till  it  left  him 
on  the  ground  on  the  inner  side  of  the  castle  wall,  like  an 
arrow-shot  bird. 

Helena.  Thou  amazest  me!  What  can  such  a  hubbub 
mean? 

Carlos.  He,  simple  man,  interprets  it  (which  he  cannot 
say  without  making  the  sign  of  the  cross  to  every  word),  that, 


WOMAN'S  WITCHCRAFT.  73 

last  night,  the  White  Witch  and  her  fiends  took  a  long  leave 
of  this  our  castle,  being,  by  some  holy  exorcism,  quite  over 
done  and  expelled;  and  that  all  this  noise  and  whirl  did 
only  indicate,  that  they  would  not  leave  without  some  sign 
of  their  accursed  mischief  and  fiendish  state  . 

Helena.  Did  the  fiends  say  aught,  as  they  fled  ? 

Carlos.  Only  some  words  caught  the  old  man's  ear ;  such 
as — "  left,  left,  left !" — and  "  twice  two  hundred  years  make 
the  castle  ours  again,  to  the  world's  end  accursed;" — and 
more  of  the  like ;  which  I,  being  somewhat  of  a  sceptic  in 
those  matters,  did  not  care  to  treasure  up  in  my  brain. 

Helena.  'Tis  strange,  indeed !  I  would  fain  tell  my  mis 
tress  of  these  events. 

Carlos.  Go — tell  them  to  her.  But,  for  my  part,  be  these 
things  of  the  earth,  or  under  the  earth,  I  am  glad  of  their 
happening.  They  shall  serve  us  a  good  tale  for  many  a 
Christmas  night. 

So  may  it  live,  in  all  Time's  memory, 

How  True  Love  quells  the  mightiest  Sorcery ! 


THE    END 


WmBiimm 


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